MISTER  BILL 

"A  Man" 


f-rtm  JONES 
BOOKSTCflL 

0«  4*J«f  LE» 


t'\     \J* 


MISTER  BILL 


MISTER  BILL 

"A   MAN" 


BY 


ALBERT  E.  LYONS 


BOSTON 
RICHARD  G.  BADGER,  PUBLISHER 

THE  GORHAM  PRESS 
1905 


Copyright  1905  by  A.  E.  LYONS 
All  Rights  Reserved 


Printed  at  The  Gorham  Press,  Boston,  U.  S.  A. 


Some  men  are  strong — gentle  in  their  strength ;  quick 
to  forgive — slow  to  condemn ;  giving  but  asking  nothing 
in  return — doing  because  it  is  for  them  to  do.  The  world 
is  better  that  they  have  lived.  To  the  memory  of  such  a 
man,  whose  companionship  was,  and  ever  will  be,  a 
strength  and  inspiration,  this  book  is  dedicated. 


2136711 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I  The  "Old  Man" 9 

II  The  Man 18 

III  The  Great  Man's  Daughter  ....  29 

IV  The  Master  Hand 37 

V  "Daddie" 47 

VI  Ling's  "S'plise" 56 

VII  The  Test  of  the  Metal 62 

VIII  No  Flaw 69 

IX  Woman's  Intuition 77 

X  When   Men   are   Tempted     ....  83 

XI  Those  Who  Watch  and  Wait     ...  95 

XII  A    Yellow    Streak?     ......  100 

XIII  The  Woman 106 

XIV  As  Men  are  Made 1 12 

XV  Do  I  Intrude? 119 

XVI  A  Man  Who  Dared 126 

XVII  Love,  Indeed! 137 

XVIII  A  Friend  in  Need  and  Deed  ....  147 

XIX  Man  Must  Conquer 157 

XX  Woman  Must  Choose 168 

XXI  Man's  Regeneration 179 

XXII  "Only  a  Man!" 190 

XXIII  Orders 206 

XXIV  A  "Real  and  Truly"  Story      ....  215 


8 


CHAPTER 

XXV 

XXVI 

XXVII 

XXVIII 

XXIX 

XXX 

XXXI 

XXXII 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Hold-Up  Party        228 

Woman's  Diplomacy         242 

"The  Tongue  is  But  a  Foolish  Jester"    .  250 

Men  of  Iron  Nerve 256 

"Who  the  Devil  Are  You?"       ...  274 

Man  to  Man 288 

"You  Love  Me?" 298 

The  Law  that  Rules  the  Universe     .     .  310 


MISTER  BILL 

CHAPTER  I 
THE  "OLD  MAN" 

THE  Old  Man's  comin',"  laconically  remarked 
Hank  Kilburne,  sheriff  and  all  around  fighting 
man,  as  he  strode  briskly  into  the  Good  Luck 
Saloon  and  joined  the  row  of  rough  fellows 
leaning  against  the  bar.  "His  car  was  hitched  on  to 
number  six  at  Albuquerque  early  this  evenin' — he'll  be 
here  in  the  mornin',"  he  added,  in  reply  to  the  several 
interrogatories  called  forth  by  his  remark. 

"It's  about  time  he  took  a  look  in;  but  I  reckon  he 
don't  know  jest  what  he's  buttin'  into,"  growled  Ed 
Belden,  one  of  his  deputies. 

"Things  were  getting  a  little  too  warm  for  the  crowd 
to  handle  and  they  sent  out  a  hurry-up  call.  The  Old 
Man's  keepin'  the  wires  hot — " 

"And  pullin'  a  few,  you  can  bet,"  gruffly  interrupted 
another  of  the  crowd. 

"Like  enough,  and  I  'low  he  has  reason  to.  He's  got 
a  mighty  big  fight  on  his  hands,  if  I'm  any  judge  of 
first-class  fightin'  material,"  said  Hank,  with  an  expres- 
sive shake  of  the  head. 

"His  crowd  have  been  whipped  to  a  standstill,  and 


io  MISTER  BILL 

they're  jest  findin'  it  out.  Maybe  the  Old  Man  can  tell 
'em  how  it  happened,"  Ed  sarcastically  observed,  giving 
additional  emphasis  to  his  remark  by  an  extra  tilt  of  the 
bottle  from  which  he  was  filling  his  glass. 

"I  reckon  the  law  don't  cut  much  figure  in  this  'ere 
fight;  the  Old  Man  will  win  if  he  'as  to  bust  the  Con- 
stitution," declared  another  of  the  deputies,  as  he  in  turn 
helped  himself  to  a  liberal  allowance  of  "Old  Club  Foot." 

"If  he's  lookin'  for  fight  he'll  find  it— there'll  be  hell 
to  pay  'round  here  afore  long.  Well,  boys,  here  goes!" 
said  Hank,  setting  the  example,  and  each  man  tossed  off 
his  glass  of  "licker"  with  one  short,  quick  gulp,  and  fell 
to  discussing  the  situation  with  renewed  energy. 

The  conflict  of  capital  versus  labor  was  on  in  deadly 
earnest  in  the  mountain  mining  district  of  Arapahoe, 
New  Mexico.  The  center  of  the  strife  revolved  about 
the  little  town  of  Gold  Dust,  which  seemed  in  imminent 
danger  of  being  wiped  out  of  existence  when  the  storm 
broke  in  all  its  fury.  The  Gold  Coin,  Good  News,  Yel- 
low Metal  and  Boodle  Mines,  their  smelters  and  reduc- 
tion works,  owned  by  the  Eastern  Syndicate,  a  corpora- 
tion chartered  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey, 
had  declared  a  lockout  in  answer  to  a  demand  on  the  part 
of  their  men  for  an  eight-hour  agreement,  and  the  regula- 
tion of  certain  abuses  which  they  maintained  were  con- 
trary to  law  and  the  well  being  of  the  men.  As  rapidly  as 
possible  new  men  had  been  brought  into  the  district  to 
take  the  places  of  the  locked-out  workers.  From  a  few 
deputies  to  guard  the  newcomers  the  force  had  been  rap- 
idly increased,  which  only  tended  to  make  the  men  more 
angry  and  aggressive  as  they  saw  their  places  being 
taken  by  the  strike-breakers.  Clashes  between  the  two 


THE  "OLD  MAN"  11 

forces  were  of  every-day  occurrence,  and  only  cool  heads 
had  prevented  a  general  outbreak.  Recognizing  that  the 
situation  had  gone  beyond  control,  and  was  each  hour 
becoming  more  desperate,  the  mine  owners  had  made  an 
urgent  appeal  to  the  federal  powers  for  assistance  to 
preserve  order  in  the  district.  Several  companies  of 
regulars  had  been  immediately  despatched  to  the  scene. 
Instead  of  being  awed  by  this  display  of  force  the  dis- 
gruntled miners  immediately  set  about  making  prepara- 
tions to  meet  force  with  force.  This  motley  army  of 
laborers  composed  of  the  underground  men,  engineers, 
firemen,  smelters,  refiners,  timbermen,  blacksmiths,  sharp- 
eners, teamsters  and  helpers,  to  the  number  of  two 
thousand  strong,  were  armed  and  all  more  or  less  ex- 
perienced in  the  use  of  their  weapons.  On  the  little 
knoll  overlooking  the  town  a  portion  of  the  military  force 
was  encamped,  while  over  on  the  mountain  side,  to  the 
left  of  the  town  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  mines, 
the  remainder  of  the  force  had  pitched  its  tents.  The 
soldiers  were  stern  and  silent;  they  were  ready  for  duty 
when  they  should  be  called  upon. 

Over  to  the  right  of  the  town  clouds  of  smoke  belch- 
ing from  the  stacks  of  a  mammoth  plant  contrasted 
strangely  with  the  desultory  puffs  which  seemed  to  creep 
up  almost  apologetically  from  the  stacks  of  the  unfair 
mines.  Repeated  attempts  had  been  made  to  draw  The 
Consolidated  Properties  into  the  strife  by  the  managers 
of  the  rival  companies,  but  without  success.  The  owners 
of  these  properties  had  steadfastly  refused  to  take  up  a 
fight  in  which  they  were  not  interested,  and  with  which 
they  had  no  sympathy.  Persuasions  and  threats  having 
failed  to  accomplish  their  purpose,  a  system  of  intimida- 


12  MISTER  BILL 

tion  and  violence  had  been  put  into  operation  against 
it.  Several  attempts  had  been  made  to  blow  up  certain 
portions  of  the  works,  and  various  schemes  of  retaliation 
had  been  frustrated  by  the  vigilance  of  its  owners.  Every 
avenue  of  approach  to  the  Consolidated  works  was  now 
guarded  by  a  force  of  armed  men,  beyond  which  none 
but  the  most  trusted  employees  were  allowed  to  go. 
A  force  of  five  hundred  picked  men  could  be  called  to 
the  defense  of  the  works  at  a  moment's  notice.  The 
disruption  of  this  company  was  the  avowed  purpose 
of  the  powerful  Syndicate  as  a  penalty  for  refusing  to 
join  forces  with  it  in  its  efforts  to  break  the  power  of 
organized  labor  in  the  district. 

Matters  were  fast  approaching  a  crisis.  The  little 
town  was  overrun  with  idle  men.  They  stood  about 
singly  and  in  groups  or  walked  slowly  up  and  down  the 
rough  wooden  sidewalks  on  either  side  of .  the  main 
street.  The  saloons  and  gambling  houses  were  deserted ; 
the  men  were  quiet  and  orderly  but  terribly  in  earnest. 
To  a  close  observer  it  was  apparent  that  something  was 
holding  them  in  check;  they  were  waiting — waiting  with 
a  stolidness  that  was  ominous.  Circulating  among  the 
men  were  the  spies  of  the  mine  owners  intent  upon  dis- 
covering the  leaders  in  order  that  they  might  be  arrested 
at  the  proper  time.  The  task  of  these  secret  agents  was 
not  an  enviable  one;  the  slightest  indiscretion  on  their 
part  and  their  lives  would  pay  the  penalty — it  required 
but  a  spark  to  fire  the  magazine. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  the  "Old  Man," 
accompanied  by  several  of  the  officers  and  directors  of 
the  Syndicate,  appeared  upon  the  scene.  The  train  had 
hardly  come  to  a  stop  before  the  small  station  when 


THE  "OLD  MAN"  13 

a  little  switch  engine  slid  in  behind  the  President's  private 
car,  and  dragged  it  out  through  the  yards  to  the  offices 
of  the  company.  Before  its  occupants  had  set  foot  on 
the  ground  the  news  of  its  arrival  was  spreading  over 
the  mountain  side.  Later  it  was  known  that  the  various 
superintendents,  managers,  and  local  representatives  of 
the  Syndicate  were  in  consultation  with  the  directors. 

Time  was  a  valuable  asset  with  President  Hillman. 
Once  a  year,  accompanied  by  his  staff  of  clerks  and  sten- 
ographers and  such  directors  as  were  necessary  to  his 
purpose,  he  made  a  personal  inspection"  of  his  vast  prop- 
erties, and  looked  over  the  field  for  prospective  invest- 
ments. For  some  time  past  the  reports  from  the  Arapa- 
hoe  district  had  been  far  from  satisfactory.  He  was  at 
first  annoyed ;  as  matters  went  from  bad  to  worse  he  be- 
came angry,  which  frame  of  mind  had  progressed 
through  varying  degrees  until  it  could  only  be  regarded 
as  acute. 

The  appellation  of  "Old  Man"  was  used  by  friends 
and  enemies  alike,  and  was  warranted  not  so  much  by  his 
years,  which  numbered  perhaps  fifty,  as  the  reputation 
he  had  made  for  himself  in  the  financial  and  industrial 
worlds  as  a  leader  of  men.  His  physical  proportions 
were  rather  insignificant;  but  one  had  only  to  look  into 
his  steel  gray  eyes,  and  note  the  deeply  set  lines  of  his 
unnaturally  pallid  face  whether  in  action  or  repose,  to 
know  that  he  was  essentially  a  man  of  intellect — that 
heart  and  conscience  had  long  since  been  relegated 
to  the  background.  He  possessed  a  nervous  energy 
which  was  a  power  in  itself,  and  gave  to  his  speech, 
especially  when  angered,  a  sharpness  that  might  be  lik- 
ened to  the  working  of  a  steel  trap,  which  in  more  ways 


14  MISTER  BILL 

than  one  was  suggestive  of  the  man.  He  knew  no 
will  but  his  own,  and  to  thwart  it  was  to  incur  his  un- 
dying enmity. 

"Who  are  the  ringleaders  of  this  crowd?  Those  are 
the  men  we  want  first,"  he  declared,  regarding  with 
keen  displeasure  the  several  superintendents  and  man- 
agers, after  receiving  their  reports  of  the  situation. 

"It's  pretty  hard  to  say,  sir;  they're  not  doing  much 
talking — they're  playing  a  deeper  game,"  said  Jim  Hedge, 
superintendent  of  the  Gold  Coin  Mine. 

"Well,  who  is  the  chief  offender — we'll  make  an  ex- 
ample of  him  to  begin  with ;  the  moral  effect  will  be 
salutary  at  least,"  snapped  the  President. 

"Consolidated  Properties  has  made  most  of  the  trouble 
for  us,  sir,"  said  Jed  Sharpley,  manager  of  the  Yellow 
Metal  Mine.  "They're  running  three  eight-hour  shifts 
and  our  men  just  naturally  kick  against  doing  ten-hour 
stunts." 

"To  be  sure.  I  foresaw  the  result  of  the  methods  of 
our  socialistic  neighbors.  We  have  fooled  with  them 
long  enough ;  we  must  adopt  more  effective  means  of 
bringing  them  to  terms." 

From  the  time  the  emissaries  of  the  big  Syndicate  had 
entered  the  district  and  inaugurated  a  system  of  spolia- 
tion and  plunder  by  wrecking  and  crippling  one  mine 
after  another  until  its  helpless  owners  had  been  frozen 
out,  or  were  compelled  to  dispose  of  their  property  on 
the  terms  of  the  oppressors,  the  trouble  with  the  men 
had  steadily  increased.  Previous  to  that  time  the  mine 
owners  and  men  had  worked  together  in  harmony,  pay- 
ing little  heed  to  the  happenings  in  the  outside  HN»ld, 


THE  "OLD  MAN"  15 

each  one  satisfied  to  do  his  work  and  participate  in  the 
legitimate  profits  thereof. 

The  opposition  to  The  Consolidated  Properties  had 
dated  from  the  very  beginning.  Its  owners  had  incurred 
the  displeasure  of  this  band  of  raiders  by  steadily  resist- 
ing its  attacks,  and  as  it  was  generally  conceded  to  be 
the  most  valuable  of  all  the  mines  this  was  an  offence 
not  to  be  lightly  condoned.  The  desire  of  the  un- 
scrupulous Syndicate  to  acquire  the  Properties  on  ac- 
count of  their  value,  gradually  developed  into  a  necessity 
as  a  means  of  protection  to  itself.  The  efforts  of  the 
elaborate  wrecking  system,  flushed  with  success  and  un- 
limited money  power,  had  been  concentrated  against  this 
lone  company.  Suits  of  injunction,  restraining  orders, 
boundary  disputes,  tunnelling  and  counter-tunnelling, 
claims  of  stolen  ores,  clash  of  forces  and  recourse  to 
law,  bribery  and  corruption  of  courts  and  officers  had 
followed  fast  and  furiously.  Each  attack  had  been  met 
fairly  and  squarely,  apparently  no  effort  being  made  to 
avoid  the  issue,  and  more  than  once  a  counter  blow  had 
been  delivered  that  had  covered  the  attacking  party 
with  consternation  and  confusion.  Fraud  and  corruption 
had  been  met  by  dragging  the  fight  into  the  open  where 
fair  play  had  been  demanded  by  the  public  in  no  uncer- 
tain voice.  Such  an  opponent  had  never  been  encountered 
before. 

The  system  was  in  disgrace;  it  had  utterly  failed  to 
accomplish  the  work  set  for  it;  it  had  even  called  for 
help.  Excuses  there  were  none  to  offer,  for  unlimited 
money  had  been  at  its  disposal,  and  all  things  could  be 
accomplished  with  money,  according  to  its  unwritten 
code.  'Every  member  of  the  corrupt  body  keenly  felt  the 


16  MISTER  BILL 

displeasure  of  his  chief,  which  had  fallen  upon  the 
heads  of  the  few  in  no  uncertain  manner.  Matters  had 
undeniably  reached  a  serious  stage — the  great  man  had 
been  compelled  to  take  the  field  in  person. 

"This  man  Bill — Mister  Bill,"  he  said,  with  cynical 
emphasis,  his  glance  of  stern  inquiry  falling  upon  one 
after  another  of  the  men  before  him,  "is  the  man  we 
want?" 

Several  heads  nodded  acquiescence.  "Land  him  and 
there'll  be  nothing  to  it  but  driving  the  whelps  back 
into  their  holes,"  declared  Jem  Remsen,  the  local  leader 
of  the  system.  Remsen  spoke  with  the  assurance  of  a 
man  who  knew  the  strength  of  his  opponent. 

"That  should  not  be  a  difficult  matter.  The  district 
has  been  declared  to  be  in  a  state  of  insurrection.  The 
military  is  in  control.  Lives  and  property  are  in  im- 
minent danger.  Riot  may  be  precipitated  at  any  moment. 
Those  responsible  for  this  state  of  affairs  must  be  ar- 
rested. We  will  begin  with  the  ringleader.  We  will 
let  the  law  deal  with  him,  and  the  law  deals  severely 
with  such  offenders.  At  least  we  can  keep  him  out  of 
the  way  sufficiently  long  to  break  his  power  over  this 
crowd,  and  that  will  also  serve  to  bring  Consolidated 
Properties  to  terms." 

"That  means  a  big  rumpus.  The  whole  crowd  will 
fight  at  the  drop  of  the  hat.  Besides,  he  has  five  hundred 
picked  men  behind  him  that  will  make  dirty  work  for 
the  crowd  that  tries  it  on,"  said  Remsen,  very  positively. 

"Nonsense!"  snapped  the  Chief,  impatiently.  "We 
have  men  here  whose  business  it  is  to  fight;  they  will 
make  short  work  of  him  and  his  band  of  ruffians.  Col- 
onel Delefield,"  he  said,  turning  abruptly  to  that  officer, 


THE  "OLD  MAN"  17 

"you  will  arrest  this  man  without  delay.  I  would  suggest 
that  you  make  a  considerable  display  of  force  in  case 
he  and  his  fool  followers  are  inclined  to  offer  resistance. 
However,  that  is  your  affair,  it  is  the  man  we  want. 
We  must  have  this  Mister  Bill  at  any  cost." 


CHAPTER  II 
THE  MAN 

A  SHADOW  suddenly  fell  across  the  threshold; 
a  form  appeared  in  the  doorway.     With  one 
swift  glance  the  man  seemed  to  take  in  every 
detail   of   the   situation.      Slowly   he   removed 
his  hat,  the  while  he  coolly  and  steadily  met  the  look 
of  inquiry  of  the  man  whose  speech  he  had  interrupted. 
The  men  had  never  met  before  yet  each  instinctively  knew 
the   other — no   formalities   of   introduction   were   neces- 
sary.    In  that  brief  interval  each  man  took  the  mental 
and  physical  measure    of    the    other.      No    word    had 
been  spoken,  yet  every  man  in  the  room  was  conscious 
that  a  new  force  had  come  into  their  midst — a  person- 
ality in  striking  contrast  to  that  of  their  leader  and  one 
that  must  be  reckoned  with. 

The  man  was  apparently  in  the  early  thirties,  full  six 
feet  in  height,  his  splendid  physical  proportions  offering 
mute  evidence  that  nature  and  man  had  worked  in  har- 
mony and  wrought  out  a  piece  of  handiwork  that  his 
fellows  might  well  envy.  The  tan  and  glow  of  health 
and  strength  told  no  less  plainly  of  winds  and  rains 
beating  upon  those  sturdy  features — no  plant  of  the  con- 
servatory was  this,  but  an  oak  seasoned  in  sunshine  and 
in  tempest.  Seriousness  and  good  nature  were  depicted  in 
his  face — a  face  at  once  expressive  of  a  mental  develop- 

18 


THE  MAN  19 

ment  equal  to  the  physical  man.  His  rough  brown  cor- 
duroy trousers  descending  into  the  tops  of  his  laced 
bootlets,  his  loose-fitting  dark  blue  shirt  and  carelessly 
knotted  black  tie  all  seemed  in  peculiar  accord  with  the 
simple  bearing  of  the  man. 

"I  am  the  man  you  seek,  sir.  My  intrusion  seems 
most  timely,"  he  said,  in  a  quiet  well  modulated  voice 
which  seemed  in  striking  contrast  to  the  tensity  of  the 
situation. 

"Colonel  Delefield,  your  duty  has  become  somewhat 
simplified — there's  your  man,"  said  Mr.  Hillman,  his 
sharp  nervous  voice  contrasting  unpleasantly  with  the 
other. 

A  slightly  perceptible  movement  of  the  features  which" 
if  a  trifle  more  pronounced  might  have  suggested  a  smile, 
was  the  only  apparent  effect  of  this  remark  upon  the 
young  man. 

"For  the  present  this  is  a  matter  between  you  and 
me,  sir.  We  can  settle  it  peaceably,  or — we  can  fight," 
he  said,  in  the  same  quiet  voice. 

"I  do  not  recognize  you  as  representing  any  point  at 
issue  between  us.  You  and  your  immediate  followers 
will  be  arrested  for  the  part  you  have  taken  in  organiz- 
ing the  men  into  armed  bodies,  inciting  riot,  and  in 
various  ways  working  in  opposition  to  law  and  order. 
You  will  be  given  ample  opportunity  to  prove  your  in- 
nocence in  a  court  of  law.  In  the  meantime  we  have 
nothing  in  common  to  discuss." 

Again  that  slightly  perceptible  change  of  expression 
as  he  coolly  regarded  the  man  who  had  threatened 
him. 

"We  will  waive  formalities  for  the  present,"  he  said, 


20  MISTER  BILL 

voice  and  manner  assuming  added  force  and  dignity. 
"A  greater  issue  is  at  stake  than  the  matter  of  mere 
individual  authority.  It  is  a  question  of  life  and  death, 
and  you  or  I  must  be  responsible.  It  is  too  great  a 
responsibility  for  me  to  assume,  and  I  cannot  believe 
that  you  will  knowingly  take  it  upon  yourself." 

"Young  man,  when  you  play  with  the  fire  you  must 
abide  the  consequences.  Leaders  of  revolutions  are  gen- 
erally burned  by  the  fires  of  their  own  making;  history 
will  bear  me  out.  You  have  incited  these  people  to 
rebellion,  and  you  must  take  the  consequences." 

"For  my  own  acts  I  will  be  responsible.  It  is  for 
your  acts,  and  those  of  your  unscrupulous  hirelings  that 
I  refuse  to  be  responsible.  How  far  you  are  directly 
responsible,  or  how  much  you  know  of  what  has  been 
done  in  your  name  and  with  your  money,  I  have  no 
means  of  knowing.  I  came  here  to  tell  you  in  order  that 
you  may  decide  for  yourself.  The  extent  of  the  cause 
is  the  measure  of  your  responsibility,  and  you  cannot 
evade  it  before  your  conscience  or  your  God  even  though 
you  whip  the  law  around  the  stump  and  put  me  in  your 
stead." 

The  great  man  fumbled  the  mass  of  papers  before 
him ;  several  of  the  directors  exchanged  glances ;  the 
superintendents  and  hirelings  shifted  uneasily  in  their 
chairs.  A  homely  old  truth  had  been  thrust  home  which 
each  man  recognized  in  spite  of  himself,  and  was  ashamed 
of  his  momentary  weakness. 

"As  President  of  this  company,  I  believe  I  am  well 
informed  concerning  its  affairs.  I  also  have  consider- 
able information  concerning  you,  the  methods  of  your 
company,  and  your  systematic  efforts  to  injure  our  busi- 


THE  MAN  21 

ness;  in  short,  information  that  will  make  very  good 
evidence  at  the  proper  time,  which,  if  I  mistake  not,  you 
will  have  considerable  difficulty  in  explaining." 

"I  know  what  your  reports  tell  you.  They  tell  you 
that  our  men  work  shorter  hours  and  receive  more  pay 
than  your  men ;  that  we  have  taken  away  your  best  men 
and  that  the  others  are  dissatisfied  and  demand  more 
wages ;  that  we  have  refused  to  take  up  your  fight  against 
the  men  notwithstanding  your  threats  and  intimidations; 
that  I  am  a  socialist  and  disorganizer,  a  menace  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  community,  and  that  I  must  be  got- 
ten rid  of  at  any  cost." 

"You  are  correct  in  your  surmise,  young  man;  they 
tell  me  all  that  and  even  more,"  said  the  President,  very 
crisply. 

"But  perhaps  they  don't  tell  you  that  half  your  men 
are  raw  recruits  drawing  the  wages  of  skilled  laborers ; 
that  mere  children  appear  on  your  pay  rolls  as  drawing 
the  wages  of  able-bodied  men ;  that  these  poor  creatures 
are  forced  to  work  long  hours  in  hell  holes  that  sap 
their  very  life ;  that  hundreds  are  killed  and  injured  and 
whole  families  driven  to  want  and  even  starvation  sim- 
ply because  human  beings  are  cheaper  than  the  protection 
that  common  decency  should  provide,  to  say  nothing  of 
what  the  law  demands ;  that  all  your  employees  are 
compelled  to  purchase  their  supplies  from  the  stores  in 
which  your  agents  are  interested,  and  where  they  are 
systematically  robbed  of  their  earnings ;  that  thousands 
of  dollars  you  have  paid  for  bribery  and  corruption  of 
courts  and  individuals  have  gone  into  the  pockets  of 
your  trusted  minions ;  that  your  whole  system  is  rotten 
to  the  core,  and  the  blood-sucking  leeches  you  employ 


22  MISTER  BILL 

to  do  your  dirty  work  have  become  poisoned  from  the 
leprous  body  on  which  they  feed.  And  the  irony  of 
it  all  is  that  the  poor  devils  are  flayed  by  the  very  hands 
they  enrich." 

The  blow  came  straight  from  the  shoulder  and  landed 
on  the  weak  spot  of  the  body  against  which  it  was 
directed.  The  representatives  of  that  body  rose  as  one 
man  in  angry  protest,  but  its  head  held  them  severely 
in  check.  Perhaps  here  was  an  explanation  of  the  fail- 
ure of  the  system  to  accomplish  its  work. 

"You  do  not  deny  creating  dissensions  among  our 
men  by  offers  of  higher  wages  and  shorter  hours,  and 
taking  such  men  as  suited  your  purpose  ?"  demanded  Mr. 
Hillman. 

"The  men  came  to  us  because  they  are  paid  and  treated 
like  men.  A  large  number  of  our  men  are  stockholders 
in  the  company ;  it  is  the  privilege  of  all.  We  are  will- 
ing to  share  a  certain  proportion  of  the  profits  as  well 
as  the  responsibility  with  the  men.  So  far  the  result 
has  shown  us  the  soundness  of  our  reckoning." 

"So  far,  yes,  but  your  experiment  is  only  well  begun. 
One  of  these  days  you  will  be  stung  by  the  serpent  you 
are  unconsciously  nurturing.  In  the  meantime  we  are  the 
sufferers  from  your  experiment.  We  are  not  realizing 
any  profits  from  our  investment,  and  shall  be  compelled 
to  reduce  rather  than  raise  the  wages  of  the  men." 

"Your  company  is  steadily  settling  under  the  weight 
of  its  watered  stock.  You  unloaded  this  worthless  stock 
on  the  public  at  fabulous  prices  and  pocketed  the  pro- 
ceeds. Instead  of  the  dividends  you  promised  you  are 
compelled  to  maintain  an  expensive  litigation  and  a 
system  of  corruption  that  saps  the  very  life  of  your 


THE  MAN  23 

company.  To  carry  on  this  system  of  jugglery  you  dig- 
nify by  the  name  of  finance,  you  would  sacrifice  every 
man,  woman  and  child  you  can  lay  hands  on." 

"This  is  rank  nonsense ;  you  are  a  socialist  of  the 
darkest  dye,"  exclaimed  the  President,  losing  his  patience. 
"Such  men  as  you  are  breeders  of  revolutions ;  you  un- 
dermine the  very  foundation  on  which  our  government 
rests ;  you  are  traitors  to  the  powers  that  build  up  and 
support  that  government — it  is  anarchy  pure  and  simple." 

"It  is  progress,"  declared  the  young  man,  with  forc- 
ible conviction ;  "even  though  it  frustrates  the  plans  of 
a  few  bogusly  capitalized  industries,  still  its  name  is 
progress.  Bribery  and  corruption  and  the  despoilers  of 
rights  and  liberties  are  its  natural  enemies — ever  on  the 
defensive — always  on  the  run — never  fighting  fair.  Prog- 
ress needs  no  defense — I  do  not  offer  it." 

"You  and  your  kind  delude  yourselves  with  sophisms. 
The  substantial  progress  of  the  race  has  been  accom- 
plished by  the  workers ;  the  dreamers  and  the  theorists 
are  the  backbiters  that  trail  along  in  the  rear  of  this 
great  army  of  producers  and  doers  they  are  never  able 
to  overtake.  You  are  but  a  mere  handful  of  stragglers ; 
you  will  be  trampled  under  foot  when  you  attempt  to 
stay  the  onward  rush  of  this  great  army." 

Slowly  the  young  man  turned  and  looked  out  of  the 
door — out  across  the  great  stretch  of  rugged  country 
to  where  the  earth  and  sky  seemed  to  meet.  Slowly 
his  eyes  traversed  the  length  of  the  mighty  sweep  of 
mountain  ranges ;  from  base  to  peak  and  into  the  blue 
azure  above  they  seemed  to  roam.  Scarce  a  sound  dis- 
turbed the  stillness  of  the  room  while  outside  a  silence 


24  MISTER  BILL 

almost  ominous  seemed  to  have  fallen  over  the  land — • 
nature  and  man  were  in  strange  accord. 

"There's  a  mightier  power  than  the  will  of  man  at 
work,"  he  said,  with  deep  and  abiding  faith,  his  gaze 
still  directed  towards  the  distant  mountain  tops.  "The 
power  that  placed  those  mountain  ranges  out  there  is 
the  power  that  works  for  progress — man  is  but  its  play- 
thing. History — that  same  history  you  referred  to — is 
the  record  of  its  wonderful  power ;  a  record  of  progress 
— the  emancipation  of  man.  I  am  too  small — too  feeble 
— to  expend  my  life's  best  energies  combating  such  a 
power — I  am  content  to  go  with  the  current." 

"Enough  of  this  nonsense !" 

"I  will  tell  you  who  are  the  real  anarchists  and  traitors 
to  our  country,"  continued  the  young  man,  almost  de- 
fiantly. "It  is  the  men  of  your  stamp  that  corrupt  the 
best  instincts  of  the  youth  of  the  nation;  the  men  who 
buy  and  sell  human  beings  that  they  may  debase  and 
debauch  the  very  laws  of  which  they  loudly  proclaim 
themselves  the  guardians ;  the  men  who  are  themselves 
slaves  to  a  system  that  is  slowly  but  surely  eating  at 
their  vitals  while  they  delude  themselves  that  they  are 
its  masters.  The  men — " 

"Colonel  Delefield,  arrest  that  man!  I  refuse  to  sub- 
mit to  further  insult!"  cried  the  President,  fairly  livid 
with  rage. 

Every  man  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant ;  hands  were 
on  guns  and  faces  were  hard  set.  Every  eye  was  directed 
towards  the  man  against  whom  the  command  had  been 
directed ;  a  false  move  on  his  part  and — but  the  man 
only  smiled.  With  a  smile  even  bland-like  he  looked  into 
the  flashing  eyes  of  the  angry  Chieftain. 


THE  MAN  25 

"Don't  make  any  mistake,"  he  said,  with  a  confidence 
not  to  be  mistaken,  "you  are  not  in  a  position  to  order 
my  arrest.  Your  safety — your  life — is  in  my  keeping  at 
this  moment." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  demanded  the  other,  surprised 
into  the  query. 

"I  mean  that  your  well  being  is  so  closely  allied  with 
mine  that  the  two  are  inseparable.  You  have  said  that 
I  have  power  over  these  men.  I  have — to  a  certain  ex- 
tent. I  have  exercised  that  power  for  several  days  past 
to  prevent  a  clash  between  your  small  army  of  hired 
fighting  men  whose  outrageous  work  you  have  coun- 
tenanced, and  now  seek  to  support  by  the  military,  and 
the  men  you  have  forced  into  rebellion.  There  is  a 
limit  to  my  power,  however,  and  it  is  about  reached." 

"Well?"  impatiently  demanded  the  other. 

"I  came  here  to  make  a  last  appeal  to  you  to  give  the 
men  a  hearing;  to  investigate  and  see  for  yourself  the 
justice  of  their  claims ;  to  give  them  fair  play  and  reason- 
able hours  and  the  treatment  a  human  being  deserves. 
I  came  to  appeal  to  you  as  a  man  to  consider  the  lives 
of  men — " 

"I  fail  to  see  how  all  this  establishes  any  close  re- 
lations between  us,"  impatiently  interrupted  the  Presi- 
dent. 

"I  will  make  it  clear  to  you.  Down  in  the  town 
and  over  among  the  hills  are  twenty-five  hundred  men 
angry  and  defiant  and  spoiling  for  a  fight.  Opposed  to 
them  are  eight  or  nine  hundred  regulars,  and  a  couple 
of  hundred  of  your  fighting  men  against  whom  the  men 
have  a  special  grievance.  We  are  two  hundred  miles 
from  the  nearest  point  from  which  assistance  can  be 


26  MISTER  BILL 

obtained;  figure  it  out  for  yourself.  If  I  fail  to  leave 
this  office  within  fifteen  minutes,  or  give  evidence  that 
I  am  free  to  do  so,  you  will  have  to  answer  for  it.  You 
are  the  man  against  whom  their  hatred  is  directed;  you 
are  the  man  with  whom  they  desire  a  reckoning.  I 
don't  think  I  have  laid  undue  stress  upon  the  serious 
nature  of  the  situation." 

"Whether  you  have  or  not  is  immaterial,"  said  Mr. 
Hillman,  very  shortly.  "I  do  not  intend  to  argue  the 
question,  nor  do  I  intend  to  give  you  the  advantage 
of  precipitating  a  conflict  for  which  you  seem  so  well 
prepared.  I  will  give  you  until  five  o'clock  this  after- 
noon to  come  to  such  understanding  with  your  followers 
as  you  deem  advisable.  You  will  then  have  the  option 
of  placing  yourself  in  charge  of  Colonel  Delefield,  or 
compelling  him  to  take  you  by  force.  The  responsibility 
of  the  conflict  of  armed  forces,  if  such  there  be,  will 
therefore  devolve  upon  you.  This  is  my  final  word," 
declared  the  President,  as  he  turned  away. 

Again  that  change  of  features — that  barely  perceptible 
smile — as  the  young  man  with  a  parting  glance  at  the 
great  man  turned  and  left  the  office. 

"Colonel  Delefield,  you  are  thoroughly  familiar  with 
the  situation.  I  wish  my  ultimatum  to  that  man  carried 
out  to  the  letter,"  said  Mr.  Hillman,  with  irritating 
sharpness. 

"That,  sir,  I  decline  most  emphatically  to  do,"  promptly 
declared  the  old  war  horse. 

"Do  I  understand  that  you  refuse  to  do  your  duty — 
to  arrest  the  man  who  has  incited  the  rebellion?"  de- 
manded the  President,  regarding  the  other  almost  in- 
credulously. 


THE  MAN  27 

"I  do,  most  emphatically,  in  the  light  of  my  present 
understanding  of  the  situation,"  replied  the  Colonel,  un- 
hesitatingly. 

"Is  there  any  doubt  in  your  mind  as  to  his  culpability? 
Do  you  require  any  further  proof?  As  for  his  bold  talk 
— a  mere  bluff,  not  to  be  seriously  considered.  It  is  part 
of  the  game  he  is  playing.  He  is  simply  using  these 
poor  fools  to  accomplish  his  own  ends;  but  when  he 
finds  that  we  are  in  sober  earnest  he  will  very  quickly 
come  to  terms.  He  is  only  a  blustering  boy  carried 
away  by  the  little  brief  authority  he  exercises  over  these 
men." 

"He  is  a  man  if  I  ever  saw  one,"  boldly  declared  the 
Colonel.  "So  far  he  has  only  been  playing  with  you. 
When  you  fired  your  heaviest  guns  he  only  smiled. 
Show  me  a  man  that  can  smile  in  the  face  of  danger, 
and  I'll  show  you  a  man — every  inch  of  him — and  a  bad 
man  to  fool  with." 

"You  seem  to  possess  a  very  great  admiration  for 
this  young  man,"  said  the  President,  looking  at  the  other 
searchingly. 

"I  know  a  man  when  I  see  one ;  there  are  some  men 
I  want  to  know  I  have  a  fight  with  before  I  start  one." 

"You  leave  me  no  alternative  but  to  believe  that  your 
very  great  respect  for  this  particular  man  leads  to  an 
evasion  of  your  duty — " 

"Don't  make  any  more  mistakes,"  gruffly  interposed 
the  old  soldier.  "I  was  sent  down  here  to  maintain 
order,  and  I'll  do  it!  But  I  don't  take  any  orders  from 
you,  or  do  any  of  your  dirty  work.  I'm  not  on  your  pay 
roll,  and  you  don't  own  the  United  States  Government, 


28  MISTER  BILL 

at  least  not  all  of  it — yet";  and  the  old  fellow  stamped 
angrily  out  of  the  office  leaving  the  disgruntled  Chief 
alone  with  his  faithful  followers. 


CHAPTER  III 
THE  GREAT  MAN'S  DAUGHTER 

CONSTANCE  HILLMAN  was  the  almost  con- 
stant companion  of  her  father  on  his  annual  trips. 
It  was  her  season  of  rest  and  recuperation  from 
the  demands  of  an  exacting  society,  and  as  much 
as  she  ever  enjoyed  anything  she  enjoyed  these  few 
weeks  of  careless  indolence.     Her  father  left  her  very 
much  to  her  own  devices  as  he  had  little  time  or  thought 
for  anything  but  the  matters  of  business  which  seemed 
to  occupy  his  every  waking  moment.     She   spent  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  in  her  own  private  apartment, 
reading,  sleeping,  or  gazing  idly  out  of  the  window.    She 
occasionally  allowed  herself  to  be  entertained  by  some 
of  the  business  associates  of  her  father,  but  for  the  most 
part  these  men  failed  to  interest  her. 

There  were  exceptions,  however,  and  Mr.  Charles 
Francis  Herringdon  was  proving  rather  a  notable  one. 
Business,  that  ever  present  bugbear,  which  seemed  ever 
drawing  men  into  its  power  and  absorbing  them  body 
and  soul,  had  not  yet  worked  its  spell  over  this  young 
man.  Mr.  Herringdon  was  a  young  millionaire  of  a  busi- 
ness turn  of  mind,  as  he  rather  prided  himself,  who  had 
lately  become  associated  with  her  father  in  several  of 
his  enterprises,  and  was  making  his  first  trip  of  inspec- 
tion of  the  properties  in  which  he  was  interested.  He 

29 


30  MISTER  BILL 

was  a  follower  rather  than  a  worker — a  necessary  part 
of  the  machinery  of  the  several  companies  in  which  he 
was  a  director.  He  voted  as  pleased  the  head  of  the 
company,  and  in  this  he  was  useful. 

The  urgency  of  the  call  and  the  haste  to  reach  the 
scene  of  disturbance  was  diverting  and  became  mildly  ex- 
citing. The  directors  discussed  the  situation  in  all  its 
bearings,  and  speculated  upon  the  best  means  of  bringing 
the  men  to  terms.  Their  displeasure  was  most  pro- 
nounced against  the  man  who  appeared  to  be  the  leader 
of  the  men.  Had  the  man  been  as  black  as  the  reports 
made  him  he  was  a  dangerous  character  to  be  at  large, 
and  the  young  woman  doubted  not  that  such  was  the 
case. 

She  was  alone  in  the  car  this  morning.  For  some 
reason  her  books  seemed  dull  and  uninteresting.  She 
tried  one  after  another  only  to  find  each  a  little  more 
stupid  than  the  other.  Throwing  them  impatiently  aside 
she  went  out  on  the  platform  of  the  car,  where  she  stood 
for  some  time  looking  at  the  strange  scene  spread  out 
before  her.  The  fresh  mountain  air  inspired  her  with  a 
desire  for  exercise.  She  stepped  down  from  the  car 
and  looked  about  her,  undecided  which  way  to  go. 

"You  ain't  gwain  away,  Miss?"  queried  a  startled 
voice. 

"Only  for  a  short  walk,  Sam,"  she  replied,  rather  im- 
patiently. 

"Better  not  go  far,  Miss.  Mister  Hillman  give  old  Sam 
fits — sure  enough !"  he  protested,  to  which  the  young 
woman  paid  no  heed. 

She  walked  slowly  up  the  rising  ground  from  where 
a  better  view  of  the  valley  could  be  obtained.  She  had 


THE  GREAT  MAN'S  DAUGHTER     31 

not  proceeded  far,  however,  before  she  came  upon  a  well 
beaten  trail  which  wound  around  the  hill  to  one  side 
of  the  town,  and  doubtless  continued  on  to  the  mines 
whose  smoking  stacks  she  could  see  in  the  distance.  She 
made  her  way  along  the  path,  occasionally  stopping  and 
looking  off  across  the  valley  or  up  at  the  towering  moun- 
tain peaks  from  some  new  point  of  vantage.  Once  she 
sat  down  and  watched  for  some  time  the  strange  move- 
ments of  a  number  of  men  down  below.  She  continued 
her  walk  apparently  unconscious  of  the  distance  she  had 
gone,  when  a  burly  form  suddenly  loomed  up  in  front 
of  her  and  barred  her  way. 

"Sorry,  Miss,  but  you  can't  go  beyant,"  said  the  man 
in  strong  Hibernian  accents. 

"And  why  not,  pray?"  she  demanded,  somewhat 
startled. 

"Orthers,  Miss." 

"Whose  orders — what  orders?"  she  asked,  mechanic- 
ally. 

"The  boss,  Miss — not  to  lave  the  Divil  himself  (axin' 
you  pardon,  Miss)  go  beyant  me." 

"Ah,  yes,  I  understand,"  she  said,  somewhat  relieved. 
"My  father's  orders,  no  doubt;  I  am  Miss  Hillman.  I 
will  go  up  in  that  little  grove  and  rest  a  while  before  re- 
turning." 

"Sorry,  Miss — it's  too  bad  you  said  a  word— divil  a 
word." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"Sure,  Miss,  this  be  the  enemy's  camp;  your  name  is 
a  pass-word  I  couldn't  take  for  the  life  of  me — axin'  your 
pardon  again,  Miss." 

"Indeed  1    And  so  the  man  who  gave  you  the  orders 


32  MISTER  BILL 

is  Mister  Bill — the  man  who  is  opposing  my  father?" 

"Yes,  Miss — Mister  Bill,  his  own  self.  Sure  he  would 
let  you  through — " 

"I  have  no  desire  to  trespass.  I  shall  return  im- 
mediately," and  turning  abruptly  she  started  back,  only 
to  find  herself  confronted  by  another  man  who  came 
swinging  briskly  along  the  trail. 

"Pardon  me — you  are  returning  to  town?  You  will 
hardly  be  able  to  pass  that  way,"  he  told  her. 

"And  why  not,  pray?"  she  demanded,  regarding  him 
severely.  "It  is  but  a  few  moments  since  I  came  this 
way." 

"I  dare  say;  but  a  force  of  men  have  just  been  sta- 
tioned a  short  distance  back  with  orders  to  allow  no  one 
to  pass." 

"And  was  it  all  done  for  my  especial  benefit?  Am  I 
such  a  very  dangerous  character  that  I  must  be  so  care- 
fully guarded  against.  It  is  the  doings  of  that  unspeak- 
able man,  Mister  Bill,  I  presume." 

"Well,  yes,  I  believe  the  men  are  acting  under  his 
instructions,  now  that  you  mention  it." 

"What  an  intensely  disagreeable  man  he  must  be!" 
she  exclaimed,  in  great  disgust.  "It  seems  as  though  I 
had  heard  nothing  the  past  two  days  but  the  mention 
of  his  odious  name,  and  now  I  am  confronted  by  his 
orders  whichever  way  I  turn." 

"I  regret  your  displeasure  exceedingly — 

"Oh,  I  would  like  to  meet  him  face  to  face!  I  would 
at  least  tell  him  what  I  think  of  him  and  his  outra- 
geous— " 

She  was  interrupted  by  a  strange  exclamation,  and 
turning  indignantly  upon  the  offender  could  discern 


THE  GREAT  MAN'S  DAUGHTER  33 

only  the  inscrutable  back  of  Jerry,  the  faithful  sentinel, 
who  seemed  to  be  deeply  absorbed  in  a  study  of  the  dis- 
tant mountain  peaks. 

"Nevertheless,  I  shall  take  my  chances.  Somebody 
should  be  dealt  with  severely  for  this  outrageous  treat- 
ment. Let  me  pass,  sir." 

"To  insure  you  against  further  annoyance  this  man 
will  accompany  you." 

"I  refuse  to  be  placed  under  guard.  I  do  not  require, 
nor  shall  I  accept  an  escort.  Oh,  this  is  monstrous!" 

"You  will  pardon  my  insistence ;  you  will  not  be  able  to 
pass  the  guard — the  orders  are  imperative." 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  these  strange  doings  ?  Is  the 
country  in  a  state  of  revolution ;  or  are  we  being  invaded 
by  an  armed  foe?  In  any  event  I  refuse  to  return  to 
town  under  guard.  I  shall  remain  right  here  for  the 
present." 

"You  will  again  pardon  me,"  he  said,  gently  but  firmly, 
"but  it  is  imperative  that  you  should  return  to  town,  and 
at  once.  You  should  not  have  ventured  so  far  away ;  your 
friends  will  be  needlessly  alarmed  by  your  absence.  Their 
anxiety  for  your  safety  may  seriously  complicate  mat- 
ters. I  must  insist  that  you  accept  the  escort  of  this 
man." 

"Oh!"  she  angrily  exclaimed.  "To  be  ordered  about 
and  forbidden  this  and  that,  and  finally  given  in  charge 
of  a — a  desperado  for  aught  I  know — he  certainly  looks 
like  one,"  she  declared,  bestowing  a  crushing  glance  on 
poor  Jerry. 

"Our  ways  and  our  people  are  as  rough  and  crude 
as  the  country,  but  like  the  rich  treasure  in  yonder 
mountain  side,  you  will  find  many  an  honest  heart  con- 


34  MISTER  BILL 

cealed  by  a  rough  exterior.  You  will  suffer  no  embar- 
rassment, Miss  Hillman,"  he  told  her,  very  simply,  as 
Jerry,  in  obedience  to  a  nod  from  him,  proceeded  to  lead 
the  way  down  the  trail. 

He  stood  for  a  moment  watching  the  young  woman 
and  her  escort,  and  was  about  turning  away  when  every 
sense  became  suddenly  on  the  alert.  Turning  slowly 
around  apparently  interested  in  something  transpiring 
down  in  the  valley,  but  steadily  watching  one  spot  on  the 
ground  to  the  left  of  him,  his  right  hand  was  gradually 
raised  until  it  rested  on  the  gun  at  his  side.  Suddenly 
facing  squarely  about,  and  drawing  his  gun  with  the 
same  movement,  he  leveled  it  fair  at  a  figure  crouching 
behind  a  rock  but  a  short  distance  away. 

"How  the  devil?"  exclaimed  the  man,  too  surprised 
for  the  moment  to  change  his  position. 

"Coming  events  cast  their  shadows,  Tenderfoot.  Put 
up  that  gun — come  down  here,"  he  ordered. 

"I  wasn't  going  to  shoot,"  growled  the  other,  putting 
away  his  gun  in  obedience  to  the  command,  and  sham- 
bling out  from  his  hiding  place. 

"What's  your  game?"  he  demanded,  studying  his  man 
closely  as  he  came  towards  him. 

"No  game.     You  didn't  think  I  was  going  to  shoot — 

"I'll  tell  you,  as  you  seem  to  have  some  scruples  about 
it  yourself.  You  had  not  fully  decided  whether  my  life 
or  death  would  be  more  to  your  advantage." 

"No  use  denying  there  are  some  that  would  like  to 
see  you  out  of  the  way ;  they  wouldn't  lose  much  sleep 
if  you  happened  to  meet  with  an  accident  and — " 

"Accidents  have  a  market  value?    How  are  they  rated 


THE  GREAT  MAN'S  DAUGHTER  35 

to-day?"  he  demanded,  regarding  the  culprit  with  some- 
thing like  piteous  contempt. 

"Look  here,  Mister  Bill,  I  know  you  don't  like  me, 
and  I  don't  say  but  you've  good  enough  cause  for  it,  but 
I  can  be  of  use  to  you.  I  know  what  the  other  side  are 
up  to  and — " 

"Such  information  also  has  a  market  value?" 

"Why  not?    You  could  afford  to  pay  well  for  it." 

"You  are  an  impossible  element  in  the  consideration, 
Tenderfoot.  We  are  fighting  for  right  and  justice — for 
our  very  manhood.  You  and  your,  kind  are  not  eligible 
to  fight  under  that  banner." 

"You've  made  a  good  fight,  and  damn  me,  if  I  didn't 
hate  you  I'd  like  to  see  you  win.  I've  no  love  for  the 
crowd  I'm  with ;  they  pay  me  well — that's  all  I  ask.  But 
they'll  beat  you  in  the  end;  the  Old  Man  will  just  wear 
you  out  if  he  can't  get  you  any  other  way." 

"And  you  would  advise  me  to  make  terms  with  the 
Old  Man,  which  incidentally,  will  benefit  you  in  some 
way,  I  presume?" 

"I'm  not  saying  it  wouldn't;  but  that's  neither  here 
nor  there.  The  Old  Man  would  jump  at  the  chance  to 
buy  you  off.  He  would  rather  have  you  with  him  than 
against  him.  He  knows  you're  worth  more  to  him  than 
the  whole  crowd  he  has  around  him.  You  could  name 
your  own  price  and  — " 

"Hand  over  Consolidated  Properties  and  sell  out  my 
friends.  Truly,  Tenderfoot,  you  are  a  master  of  vil- 
lainy." 

"You  could  satisfy  the  whole  crowd,  and  your  con- 
science at  the  same  time  with  the  money  you  would  get 
out  of  it ;  it  will  be  better  than  losing  it  all  as  you 


36  MISTER  BILL 

surely  will  if  you  persist  in  fighting  the  Old  Man.  He 
can  give  you  everything  a  man  has  any  use  for ;  wealth, 
power,  position — even  a  wife.  Just  play  your  cards 
right  and  you'll  be  a  bigger  man  that  the  Old  Man  him- 
self." 

"Tenderfoot,  I  believe  you  pollute  the  very  atmos- 
phere," said  the  other,  turning  away  in  disgust. 

"Don't  be  a  fool!"  exclaimed  Tenderfoot,  with  angry 
earnestness.  "I'll  tell  you  something  now  that  perhaps 
you  don't  know.  Even  if  you  beat  the  Old  Man — which 
is  supposing  more  than  will  ever  happen — you're  not 
out  of  the  woods.  The  old  crowd  is  still  on  your  trail  and 
ready  to  take  up  the  fight  where  the  Old  Man  leaves  off 
— one  or  the  other  is  bound  to  get  you." 

"Thank  you,  Tenderfoot — you  may  go  now,"  said 
the  young  man,  with  rather  better  grace  than  might  have 
been  expected. 

A  smile  which  gradually  developed  into  broad  pro- 
portions lighted  up  his  face  as  he  made  his  way  over  the 
hill. 

"Tenderfoot,"  he  said  aloud,  glancing  back  at  the  dis- 
appearing figure,  "I  must  see  that  no  harm  comes  to 
you;  your  peculiar  talent  must  be  turned  to  some  good 
account" 


CHAPTER  IV 
THE  MASTER  HAND 

CHRIS  ENGLER  swung  himself  down  from  the 
cab  of  the  big  mountain  climber  which  stood 
panting  and  heaving  before  the  little  station  of 
Gold  Dust.  He  glanced  uneasily  at  his  watch  and 
then  looked  searchingly  around,  but  apparently  found 
little  to  satisfy  him.  Mechanically  he  walked  around  the 
big  machine  looking  into  an  oil-cup  here,  wiping  a  bear- 
ing there,  and  testing  a  bolt  in  another  place.  This  was 
the  third  time  Chris  had  made  the  same  round — some- 
thing was  clearly  amiss. 

Orders  had  been  issued  that  a  special  train  with  Presi- 
dent Hillman's  private  car  attached  should  go  out  at 
four  o'clock.  A  half  hour  before,  Mont  Lang,  the  driver 
of  the  engine,  had  hurriedly  left  the  round  house  in  re- 
sponse to  an  urgent  summons  from  his  home.  It  lacked 
but  a  few  minutes  of  the  hour,  and  he  had  not  returned. 

After  the  meeting  in  the  forenoon  President  Hillman 
had  very  quickly  decided  that  he  could  conduct  his  cam- 
paign to  better  advantage  from  a  distance.  He  was  com- 
pelled to  admit  that  the  situation  was  rather  more  serious 
than  he  had  anticipated,  and  what  was  even  more  em- 
barrassing, not  to  say  awkward,  his  authority  had  been 
set  at  naught  by  the  man  from  whom  he  had  expected 
the  greatest  assistance.  Colonel  Delefield  had  openly 

37 


38  MISTER  BILL 

defied  him ;  but  there  were,  thanks  to  a  great  and  just 
government,  those  from  whom  he  would  be  compelled  to 
take  orders.  The  ringleader  should  be  arrested  and  his 
plans  carried  out,  and  if  righting  there  must  be,  it  was 
not  necessary  that  he  should  be  a  party  to  it;  the  men 
had  brought  it  on  themselves,  and  they  must  abide  the 
consequences.  In  a  later  interview  with  Colonel  Dele- 
field,  while  adopting  less  aggressive  tactics  than  he  had 
previously  employed,  he  made  it  clear  to  that  officer  that 
orders  would  shortly  come  from  a  source  which  could 
not  be  disregarded,  and  it  would  be  best  for  all  concerned 
— especially  for  Colonel  Delefield — to  perform  his  duty, 
and  arrest  the  man  who  was  clearly  responsible  for  the 
existing  state  of  affairs,  in  case  he  refused  to  give  him- 
self up  at  the  hour  appointed. 

Down  in  the  town  as  the  hours  went  by  the  men  be- 
came more  and  more  impatient.  Apparently  nothing 
from  which  any  satisfaction  could  be  derived  had  trans- 
pired at  the  meeting  in  the  forenoon.  Rumors  flew 
thick  and  fast,  some  based  on  facts,  others  calculated  to 
discourage  the  men  or  create  dissensions  among  them. 
The  man  on  whom  they  pinned  their  faith  and  with 
whose  fortunes  they  had  linked  their  own  had  been  given 
the  choice  of  surrendering  himself  to  the  enemy,  or  suf- 
fering forcible  arrest  at  five  o'clock.  He  had  given  no 
sign  of  his  intentions — he  had  only  said  wait.  They 
would  not  frustrate  his  plans — if  plans  he  had — by  dis- 
obeying his  orders.  They  would  wait  until  five  o'clock — 
that  was  the  time  he  had  asked.  But — and  each  man 
said  it  with  deadly  earnestness — there  should  be  no  ar- 
rest. With  his  arrest  would  disappear  their  last  hope — 
nothing  remained  but  to  fight. 


THE  MASTER  HAND  39 

At  four  o'clock  President  Hillman  looked  at  his  watch 
and  heaved  a  sigh  of  satisfaction.  When  several  minutes 
had  passed  and  no  move  had  been  made,  he  sent  one 
of  his  clerks  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  delay. 

"No  engineer !"  he  exclaimed,  incredulously.  "What's 
the  meaning  of  this?  I  gave  positive  instructions  that 
we  should  start  promptly  at  four  o'clock,"  and  he  went 
out  to  investigate  for  himself. 

"I  don't  know,  sir,"  said  the  superintendent,  helplessly. 
"Something  has  happened  to  old  Mont — he  can't  be 
found." 

"Well,  give  me  another  man,"  said  the  President,  im- 
patiently. "My  time  is  too  valuable  to  be  fooled  away 
by  a  drunken  engineer.  Move  lively,  now." 

"Sorry,  sir,  but  there  ain't  another  man  in  the  camp 
that  can  take  No.  10  down  the  mountain.  There's  only 
two  on  the  road  that  we  trust  with  a  passenger,  and 
the  other  is  down  below." 

"Let  the  fireman  take  us  down ;  I  dare  say  he  can 
do  it  if  necessary,"  said  the  exasperated  President,  after 
a  moment's  thought. 

"I  don't  reckon  that  Chris  will  undertake  the  job — 
we'll  see  what  he  says,"  said  the  superintendent,  leading 
the  way  forward  where  the  fireman  was  pacing  up  and 
down  beside  his  giant  charge. 

"No,  sir,"  said  Chris,  slowly  shaking  his  head,  "I 
don't  cal'late  I  ought  to  undertake  the  job.  If  'twere  only 
a  freight  I'd  do  it  in  a  minute." 

"I  was  not  aware  that  it  was  such  a  very  difficult  feat 
to  take  a  train  a  few  miles  down  a  mountain — to  a  man 
who  is  supposed  to  know  his  business,"  said  the  Presi- 
dent, with  ill  concealed  disgust. 


40  MISTER  BILL 

"It's  a  powerful  grade,  sir,  and  she  has  to  get  the  air 
just  right,  or  she  might  get  away  from  me.  Anyhow 
it's  no  time  to  experiment  with  a  carload  of  people  be- 
hind me,"  Chris  insisted. 

"I  guess  Chris  is  about  right,"  said  the  superintendent. 

Mr.  Hillman  turned  away  in  disgust,  and  returned 
to  'his  car,  apparently  deriving  little  satisfaction  from 
the  assertions  of  the  men  that  the  missing  engineer  might 
turn  up  at  any  moment. 

A  half  hour  later  the  situation  remained  unchanged, 
except,  perhaps,  for  the  growing  uneasiness  on  the  part 
of  the  President  and  his  party,  and  a  rumor  that  was 
spreading  around  the  town  of  their  predicament  which 
caused  a  general  movement  of  the  crowd  toward  the  sta- 
tion. Some  were  inclined  to  regard  it  as  a  huge  joke 
on  the  "Old  Man,"  but  others  saw  in  it  a  deeper  mean- 
ing. 

"The  Old  Man  ain't  gone  yet,"  said  Hank  Kilburne, 
as  he  rode  in  amongst  the  crowd  at  the  station,  and  pulled 
up  beside  one  of  his  deputies. 

"Nary  a  move.  The  Old  Fellow  may  be  on  hand  after 
all  when  the  fun  begins.  I  reckon  he  don't  hanker  much 
after  that  part  of  the  game,"  said  the  other. 

"I  suspicion  there  may  be  them  as  have  taken  it  upon 
themselves  to  invite  him  to  stay — there's  something  mys- 
terious goin'  on.  The  Old  Man  is  doin'  the  guessin' 
jest  about  now,"  said  Ed  Belden,  who  had  just  ridden  up. 
"The  crowd  is  gettin'  mighty  uneasy — there's  got  to  be 
a  show-down  purty  soon,"  he  added,  glancing  around  at 
the  rapidly  increasing  crowd. 

"The  Old  Man's  gettin'  nervous,"  said  Hank,  as  the 
President  appeared  on  the  platform  and  looked  about 


THE  MASTER  HAND  41 

him.  "He  don't  like  the  looks  of  things,  and  I  'low  I 
don't  blame  him  much." 

"The  boys  over  yonder  are  gettin'  ready  for  trouble," 
said  Ed,  a  moment  later,  as  he  discerned  a  movement 
among  the  soldiers,  "and  the  crowd  over  on  the  hills  is 
moving  this  way.  There's  trouble  comin'  fast  enough. 
It's  up  to  Mister  Bill ;  and  I  'low  I  hope  he  knows  what 
he's  doin'." 

"  'Bout  time  he  was  showin'  up,  'pears  to  me,"  growled 
Hank.  "Wouldn't  take  much  to  set  things  to  goin'  'bout 
now." 

At  a  quarter  of  five,  when  Colonel  Delefield  with  the 
greater  part  of  his  command  appeared  upon  the  scene 
and  quietly  stationed  his  men  around  the  station,  and 
in  various  commanding  positions,  the  crowd  numbered 
close  upon  two  thousand,  and  was  rapidly  increasing; 
incidentally,  it  was  fast  developing  the  temper  of  the 
mob. 

It  was  a  strange — a  dangerous  crowd  of  human  be- 
ings. Hundreds  of  those  breasts  heaved  with  pent-up 
passions — passions  as  primeval  as  ever  beat  in  human 
forms.  The  instinct  of  self-preservation — the  instinct  of 
the  wild  animal  that  turns  upon  and  rends  itself — was 
the  force  that  must  be  reckoned  with.  There  were  those 
who  knew  the  temper  of  that  crowd ;  they  knew  they 
were  powerless  to  control  it.  Only  a  master  hand  could 
hold  it  in  check — the  master  hand  was  sorely  needed. 

Over  the  hill  from  the  direction  of  Consolidated  Prop- 
erties appeared  a  horseman.  Down  the  hill  and  along  the 
dusty  roadway  he  came,  leaving  a  cloud  of  dust  behind. 
Straight  on  through  the  stragglers  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  town,  on  through  the  mass  of  human  beings  gathered 


42  MISTER  BILL 

about  the  station,  straight  to  the  platform  of  the  Presi- 
dent's car  he  rode  before  drawing  rein.  A  strange 
hush  fell  upon  the  scene  where  but  a  moment  before 
strife  was  in  the  very  atmosphere.  The  crowd  waited 
with  bated  breath — it  was  withholding  judgment. 

"Well,  young  man,  I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  have 
come  to  your  senses,"  said  Mr.  Hillman,  looking  down 
at  his  opponent  with  apparent  satisfaction.  "You  have 
come  to  give  yourself  up,  I  infer." 

"No,  sir,  I  have  come  to  talk  business,"  briefly  re- 
plied the  young  man,  as  he  swung  himself  out  of  the 
saddle. 

"Business!"  angrily  exclaimed  the  President,  "there's 
no  business  that  we  can  discuss.  I  should  have  left  here 
an  hour  ago ;  I  am  leaving  at  any  minute.  Colonel  Dele- 
field  has  my  instructions;  I  would  advise  you  to  confer 
with  him." 

"There  is  ample  time  to  discuss  our  affairs,"  coolly 
replied  the  other.  "I  may  as  well  tell  you  frankly,  that 
you  will  not  leave  the  camp  until  we  come  to  a  thorough 
understanding." 

"You  threaten  me?"  demanded  the  great  man,  an- 
grily. 

"I  am  speaking  plainly;  I  cannot  afford  to  do  other- 
wise, nor  can  you  afford  to  have  me." 

"And  so  you  and  your  unscrupulous  followers  are 
responsible  for  the  sudden  disappearance  of  my  engineer ; 
you  are  keeping  me  here  by  force.  This  is  infamous ! ! — 
a  fool  act  for  which  you  will  pay  dearly — mark  me!" 

"If  there  is  any  fighting  to  be  done  I  intend  that  you 
shall  bear  a  certain  portion  of  the  responsibility,  inas- 


THE  MASTER  HAND  43 

much  as  it  will  be  done  at  your  insistence.  Now,  then, 
is  it  business,  or — fight  ?" 

"I  might  have  suspected  such  treachery.  You  have 
me  again  at  a  disadvantage.  I  have  no  doubt  you  are 
foolish  and  reckless  enough  to  carry  out  your  threats. 
For  the  sake  of  my  friends — my  daughter — I  am  com- 
pelled to  listen  to  you.  Will  you  come  inside,  or — do 
you  prefer  neutral  ground  ?"  inquired  the  President,  with 
very  poor  grace. 

"No,  sir,"  promptly  replied  the  young  man  as  he 
climbed  up  on  the  platform  and  followed  the  other  into 
the  car.  "We  can  settle  the  preliminaries  very  quickly 
and — without  assistance,"  he  said,  as  they  entered  the  car 
and  found  themselves  in  the  presence  of  the  other  di- 
rectors. "When  we  understand  each  other,  it  will  be 
time  enough  to  submit  our  views  to  those  interested  with 
us." 

"Come  into  my  private  apartment,"  said  Mr.  Hillman, 
leading  the  way.  "Now,  then,  what  is  this  business — 
what  do  you  want?" 

"I  want  all  the  suits  and  injunctions  pending  against 
Consolidated  Properties  withdrawn  at  once.  I  want  you 
to  relinquish  your  claims  against  certain  other  properties 
on  which  you  have  no  just  claim.  I  want  a  well  de- 
fined policy  for  the  future  and  a  complete  change  in  your 
methods  of  business — this  for  myself,  and  my  company. 
For  the  men — your  men — I  bespeak  your  consideration. 
They  only  ask  for  fair  treatment.  You  cannot  do  less 
in  justice  to  yourself,  to  say  nothing  of  justice  to  them, 
than  to  give  it  to  them." 

"Your  demands  are  exceedingly  modest,  young  man," 
said  Mr.  Hillman  with  contemptuous  sarcasm.  "Do  you 


44  MISTER  BILL 

think  I  have  no  alternative  but  to  submit  to  your  dicta- 
tion. Are  you  fool  enough  to  think  that  I  would  be 
bound  by  any  promises  made  under  threats  of  bodily 
injury  ?" 

"No.  Threats  mean  but  little  unless  backed  by  the 
power  to  enforce  them.  I  happen  to  have  that  power." 

"In  that  case  I  advise  you  to  show  your  hand — this  is 
no  time  for  idle  words.  What  is  this  wonderful  power 
you  hold?"  demanded  the  President,  with  irritable  im- 
patience. 

"The  railroad — this  railroad,"  replied  the  young  man, 
with  forcible  emphasis.  "Consolidated  Properties  and  its 
friends  control  The  New  Mexico  Consolidated  Rail- 
road." 

"It's  false!"  cried  the  astonished  Chief.  "It's  false— 
you  cannot  deceive  me  with  such  a  fool  trick.  I  happen 
to  know  just  where  the  control  of  the  railroad  rests;  I 
have  made  it  my  business  to  know,  and  before  long  it 
will  be  under  the  control  of  the  Eastern  Syndicate." 

"It  is  no  trick,  but  the  solemn  truth  which  I  can  prove 
to  your  satisfaction.  While  you  have  been  attempting  to 
secure  control  of  the  railroad  by  the  same  unscrupulous 
methods  you  employed  to  gain  possession  of  the  mines, 
a  corporation  in  which  Consolidated  Properties  is  the 
principal  holder  has  been  acquiring  the  stock,  and  to-day 
secured  the  controlling  interest." 

"Even  so?" 

"Your  mines — your  entire  property  in  this  district — 
are  therefore  practically  in  our  power." 

"Am  I  to  understand  that  you  threaten  to  use  that 
power  to  compel  me  to  accede  to  your  outrageous  de- 


THE  MASTER  HAND  45 

mands?"  inquired  the  President,  considerably  subdued  by 
the  sudden  turn  of  affairs. 

"Precisely — if  you  force  me  to  that  extent.  I  ask  only 
simple  justice  for  myself  and  the  men  whose  fight  I  have 
made  my  own  because  our  interests  were  one.  We  were 
compelled  to  fight  for  our  very  existence." 

"This  is  a  matter  that  I  must  lay  before  my  directors ; 
we  must  have  time  to  consider,"  said  the  President, 
finally. 

"Very  well,  sir.  I  will  return  in  an  hour  for  your 
decision." 

The  feelings  of  a  certain  young  woman  were  too  con- 
flicting to  permit  of  analysis  while  this  interview  was  in 
progress.  She  had  made  a  sudden  and  disconcerting  dis- 
covery. She  had  been  in  the  power  of  this  same  un- 
scrupulous man;  she  had  even  told  him — what  had  she 
told  him?  She  watched  him  as  he  mounted  his  horse 
and  rode  away  through  the  crowd  which  quietly  dis- 
persed apparently  in  obedience  to  a  few  words  from  him 
— the  crowd  that  but  a  few  minutes  before  was  a  wild 
jeering  mob  of  which  she  stood  in  mortal  terror.  What 
strange  power  did  he  hold  over  these  men?  She  knew 
not  what  to  make  of  such  a  man,  nor  could  Mr.  Her- 
ringdon  throw  much  light  upon  this  particular  subject. 

Late  that  night  the  little  town  was  a  scene  of  great 
rejoicing  when  it  became  known  that  a  satisfactory  un- 
derstanding had  been  reached  between  the  directors  of 
the  Eastern  Syndicate  and  the  representatives  of  the 
men,  and  that  work  in  the  mines  would  be  resumed  with- 
out delay.  Early  in  the  morning  the  regular  train  to 
which  was  attached  the  private  car  of  President  Hillman 
pulled  out  on  schedule  time,  old  Mont  occupying  his 


46  MISTER  BILL 

accustomed  seat  in  the  cab.  The  soldiers  also  took  their 
departure  next  day  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  towns- 
people, as  well  as  the  men  themselves,  including-  their 
blunt  old  Colonel,  who  was  too  much  of  a  soldier  to 
relish  such  duty  as  he  had  been  called  upon  to  perform. 


CHAPTER  V 
"DADDIE" 

ALTHOUGH  peace  had  been  declared  and  each 
side  seemed  desirous  of  adjusting  itself  to  the 
new  conditions  as  rapidly  as  possible,  there  was 
more  or  less  friction  which  gave  indications  of 
smouldering  fires.  The  heat  of  passion  had  been  too 
thoroughly  aroused  to  be  at  once  laid  cold.  The  services 
of  the  strike-breakers  and  the  crowd  of  deputies  and 
fighting  men  were  no  longer  required;  a  goodly  number 
of  the  latter,  however,  seemed  in  no  hurry  to  take  their 
departure,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  whoop  things 
up  at  a  lively  rate,  and  made  themselves  still  more  con- 
spicuous by  loud  threats  against  certain  individuals  who 
had  incurred  their  displeasure.  Their  presence  was  a 
menace  to  the  peace  of  the  community;  they  were  keep- 
ing alive  a  spirit  of  resentment  which  sooner  or  later 
must  find  expression.  The  townspeople  were  in  no  mood 
to  be  trifled  with;  they  had  rights  which  must  be  re- 
spected. The  day  following  the  departure  of  the  soldiers 
came  the  first  outbreak  which  for  a  brief  moment  seemed 
likely  to  develop  serious  consequences,  but  the  prompt- 
ness with  which  it  was  suppressed  seemed  to  have  a 
salutary  effect  on  the  belligerents. 

The  quiet  of  the  early  morning  was  suddenly  broken 
by  the  ominous  reports  of  three  shots  following  one  after 

47 


48  MISTER  BILL 

the  other  in  quick  succession.  In  a  twinkling  the  main 
street  of  the  little  town  became  a  scene  of  wild  excite- 
ment. Shopkeepers  with  their  early  morning  patrons 
rushed  to  their  doors ;  unkempt  heads  protruded  from 
second-story  windows;  blear-eyed  and  surly  stragglers 
lurched  awkwardly  out  of  the  saloons;  the  small  restau- 
rants and  Chinese  chop-houses  added  their  quota  to  the 
motley  throng.  All  eyes  were  immediately  focused  upon 
a  strange  appearing  individual  who  had  taken  up  a  posi- 
tion in  the  middle  of  the  street,  and  in  loud  but  somewhat 
incoherent  speech  was  proclaiming  his  ability  to  maintain 
it  against  all  comers.  He  was  recklessly  flourishing  his 
shooting-iron,  and  inspired  doubtless,  by  his  rapidly  in- 
creasing audience,  proceeded  to  cast  maledictions  of  an 
equally  confused  character  upon  the  community  at  large, 
and  upon  one  Mister  Bill  in  particular,  against  whom  he 
seemed  to  have  a  special  grievance. 

"Tenderfoot's  lookin'  for  trouble,  sure  enough," 
growled  the  proprietor  of  the  leading  mercantile  es- 
tablishment, as  he  proceeded  to  barricade  his  windows 
against  the  intrusion  of  stray  bullets. 

"He's  sure  enough  come  to  the  right  place — it's  jest 
layin'  'round  here  loose,"  said  Hank  Kilburne,  as  he 
elbowed  his  way  through  the  crowd  in  front  of  the  store. 
"Better  get  inside,  ladies,"  he  gruffly  admonished,  "no 
tellin'  where  the  lightnin'  will  strike." 

Crack!  Crack!  followed  two  more  shots  evidently 
fired  at  random,  the  first,  shattering  a  pane  of  glass  in  one 
of  the  saloons,  and  the  second,  kicking  up  a  small  cloud 
of  dust  in  the  street.  A  rapid  scampering  to  get  under 
cover,  and  a  wild  rush  from  all  sides  followed  this  sec- 
ond display  of  careless  marksmanship,  and  the  reckless  in- 


"DADDIE"  49 

ebriate  who  had  so  brazenly  courted  trouble  suddenly 
found  it  closing  in  about  him.  In  the  excitement  of  the 
first  mad  rush  the  crowd  seemed  to  literally  wrestle  and 
struggle  with  itself,  and  to  the  angry  desire  of  each  man 
to  lay  violent  hands  on  the  offender  may  be  attributed 
his  momentary  respite  from  its  summary  vengeance. 

Suddenly  above  the  muttered  growls  and  curses  a 
warning  cry  was  raised.  A  horse  and  rider  came  tearing 
down  the  street  at  breakneck  speed,  and  not  until  the 
animal  seemed  about  to  plunge  into  the  very  midst  of  the 
struggling  mass  did  the  rider  draw  violent  rein,  bringing 
his  horse  to  his  haunches,  scattering  men  right  and  left, 
and  enveloping  the  crowd  in  a  cloud  of  the  heavy  yellow 
dust  that  lay  inches  deep  on  the  roadway. 

"Mister  Bill!"  cried  a  chorus  of  the  onlookers,  who 
had  recognized  the  reckless  rider  from  their  various 
points  of  vantage. 

"Tenderfoot  was  lookin'  for  him,  and  now  he's 
found  him,"  sarcastically  observed  one  of  a  group  of  by- 
standers. 

"I  don't  cal'late  he  had  any  pressin'  business  with  Mis- 
ter Bill,"  dryly  remarked  one  of  his  companions. 

"Looks  like  Mister  Bill  has  uncommon  business  with 
him — 'peared  sort  of  hurried  like,  the  way  he  lit  into  that 
crowd,"  said  another. 

Simultaneously  with  the  pulling  up  his  horse  the  man 
had  thrown  himself  from  the  saddle,  and  before  the 
crowd  had  recovered  from  the  surprise  occasioned  by  his 
unceremonious  arrival  he  had  forced  his  way  into  its 
very  midst,  and  was  standing  face  to  face  with  the  man 
who  but  a  moment  before  was  proudly  proclaiming  his 
desire  for  such  a  meeting.  As  the  new-comer  was  rec- 


50  MISTER  BILL 

ognized  the  tension  on  all  sides  seemed  suddenly  to  re- 
lax, and  as  one  man  the  crowd  fell  slowly  back.  For  a 
brief  interval  of  strange  and  almost  ominous  quiet  the 
two  men  regarded  each  other  in  silence. 

"I'll  troutle  you  for  that  gun,"  he  said,  and  the  cool 
insistence  of  his  demand  seemed  to  leave  the  other  no 
alternative  but  to  hand  over  the  troublesome  shooter.  "I 
believe  that  is  your  horse,"  he  continued,  in  the  same 
even  voice,  dropping  the  gun  carelessly  into  his  own 
side  strap,  and  indicating  by  a  nod  of  his  head  the  an- 
imal in  question,  "and  the  next  time  you  have  business 
in  this  camp  your  fireworks  can  be  dispensed  with — to 
your  advantage,"  he  added,  significantly. 

He  stood  quietly  watching  the  movements  of  the  now 
thoroughly  cowed  and  considerably  sobered  belligerent, 
who  lost  no  time  in  mounting  his  horse,  and  making  off 
down  the  trail.  Turning  to  the  expectant  crowd,  which 
seemed  at  a  loss  to  understand  this  informal  disposition 
of  so  dangerous  a  character,  a  good-natured  smile  spread 
slowly  over  his  bronzed  countenance. 

"Sorry,  boys,"  he  said,  "to  break  into  your  game  so 
abruptly,  but  the  fact  is  I  have  a  special  interest  in  that 
chap,  and  I  don't  want  any  harm  to  come  to  him — just 
yet.  You  gave  him  a  lesson  he  will  not  soon  forget." 

"All  right,  Mister  Bill,  if  you're  willin'  to  let  it  go  at 
that,  guess  we  can  stand  it,"  replied  one  of  the  rough 
fellows,  which  seemed  to  voice  the  general  sentiment,  and 
the  crowd  quickly  dispersed. 

"Come  on,  Mexico !"  he  called,  as  he  took  leave  of  his 
companions,  and  made  his  way  briskly  along  the  side- 
walk, "come  on,  old  chap,  we'll  go  to  breakfast,"  glanc- 
ing over  his  shoulder  to  see  that  his  summons  was  obeyed. 


"DADDIE"  51 

Turning  abruptly  from  the  main  street,  he  struck  off  up 
the  hill,  Mexico  following  close  behind  and  wagging  his 
ears  with  equine  consciousness  of  this  special  mark  of  at- 
tention from  his  master.  From  several  of  the  small 
cabins  came  hearty  salutations  and  an  occasional  invita- 
tion to  stop  and  have  a  "bite,"  which  were  all  good-na- 
turedly declined  without  interruption  to  the  brisk  pace 
he  was  setting  until  one  more  peremptory  than  the  oth- 
ers seemed  to  compel  a  momentary  halt. 

"Mornin',  Mister  Bill,"  called  a  cheery  feminine  voice 
from  the  porch  of  the  last  cabin.  "Jim  'lowed  you  might 
stop  and  have  a  snack  with  him.  Dad  sent  us  up  some 
bran  new  store  coffee,  and  Jim  says  I  beat  anything  he 
ever  did  see  makin'  ranch  biscuit — and  I  'low  I  jest 
about  beat  myself  this  mornin'." 

"Ah,  Molly,  you  are  a  sad  tempter!  You  certainly  do 
know  my  weakness,"  he  laughed,  pausing  for  a  mo- 
ment, "but  you  must  excuse  me  this  time.  Ling  gave 
me  strict  orders  to  return  to  breakfast.  Something  very 
mysterious  is  going  on — he  has  some  great  surprise  for 
me.  You  see,  I  can't  take  any  chances.  Thank  you, 
Molly,"  he  said,  as  he  proceeded  on  his  way  quite  uncon- 
scious that  Molly's  bright  eyes  seemed  suddenly  to  lose 
interest  in  their  work,  and  followed  him  until  he  was  lost 
to  sight  up  the  trail. 

He  swung  briskly  along  the  tortuous  trail,  but  had  not 
proceeded  far  before  he  discovered  a  strange  figure  but 
a  short  distance  ahead  of  him.  As  he  came  up  with  the 
mysterious  stranger,  she  suddenly  turned  and  confronted 
him. 

"Dad's  gal!"  he  exclaimed,  in  evident  surprise.  "I 
thought  you — " 


52  MISTER  BILL 

"Yes,  you  thought  I  was  dead.  Well,  I  am — to  every- 
thing decent  and  respectable.  This  miserable  body  still 
breathes,  but  dad's  gal  is  dead,"  she  replied,  in  a  harsh, 
metallic  voice  with  an  evident  effort  to  repress  any  nat- 
ural feeling  she  might  have  felt. 

"Where  have  you  been  all  these  years,  Daddie?"  he 
inquired,  with  kindly  interest. 

"Going  from  bad  to  worse  pretty  much  all  the  time, 
I  reckon.  It  ain't  so  hard  when  everybody  gives  you  a 
kick  to  help  you  along.  From  the  time  Tenderfoot  came 
to  our  camp  over  there  in  Colorado  with  his  smooth 
tongue,  and  I  believed  his  fine  promises,  and  broke  dad's 
old  heart,  I've  been  on  that  trail.  Don't  think  I  want 
your  pity — I  didn't  come  up  here  for  that,"  she  hastened 
to  assure  him,  as  if  ashamed  of  the  momentary  weakness 
she  had  allowed  herself. 

"No,  Daddie — I  understand.  Go  on,"  he  told  her  kind- 
ly, as  if  he  read  her  thoughts. 

"It  ain't  a  fair  deal — the  cards  are  stacked — when  a 
smooth-tongued  devil  can  play  his  game  to  the  limit  with 
a  young  un'  that  don't  know  no  more  about  the  world 
than  she  learned  from  her  old  dad  and  some  rough  old 
miners,  and  who  never  had  any  companions  but  the  wild 
things  she  found  in  the  woods  and  made  friends  with 
because  she  was  almost  as  wild  as  they,"  she  told  him, 
with  bitterness  of  subdued  heart  pain  and  remorse.  "But 
what's  the  use!"  she  cried,  impatiently,  "you  know  all 
about  it,  and  I'm  only  wasting  your  time  when  I've  no 
business  even  speaking  to  you." 

"Where  do  you  live,  Daddie — what  are  you  doing 
here?" 

"I  live  down  there  among  the  shanties — in  hell.    I  came 


"DADDIE"  53 

up  here  this  morning  to  warn  you.  Tenderfoot  would 
do  you  harm  if  he  could — he  hates  you  from  the  bottom 
of  his  wicked  black  heart.  He  is  jealous  of  your  success, 
and  blames  you  for  all  of  his  failures.  He  was  drinking 
down  there  all  night,  and  boasted  that  he  had  you  on  the 
hip  at  last,  and  was  only  waiting  his  time  to  throw  you. 
I  don't  know  his  game,  but  he  and  his  pals  are  pretty 
sure  of  their  cards  or  he  wouldn't  be  so  reckless." 

"And  so  you  came  to  warn  me,  Daddie — that  was  good 
of  you.  But  I  don't  fear  him — his  bark  is  worse  than  his 
bite." 

"I  know  you  don't  fear  him,  Mister  Bill.  You  could 
crush  every  bone  in  his  miserable  body  in  a  fair  fight, 
but  he  don't  fight  in  the  open — he  strikes  from  behind. 
I  know  what  you  did  this  morning — I  saw  it  all.  You 
saved  his  cowardly  life  when  his  threat  to  kill  you  was 
hardly  cold  on  his  lips.  Somehow,"  she  hesitated,  "some- 
how, I  should  like  to  thank  you,  only  I  know  you  would 
do  the  same  thing  for  a  yaller  dog;  besides,  you  don't 
want  thanks  from  such  as  me." 

"I  know  only  Daddie — dad's  gal  still  lives  to  me,"  he 
gently  replied,  stroking  Mexico's  soft  muzzle  which 
rested  against  his  shoulder.  "She  was  as  wild  and 
sweet  and  pretty  and  pure  a  mountain  flower  as  ever  grew. 
A  cruel  hand  plucked  the  innocent  and  helpless  flower  to 
please  a  passing  fancy — the  flower  was  not  to  blame." 

"Those  are  the  first  kind  words  I've  heard  in  years," 
she  cried,  covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  and  bursting 
into  tears.  "Oh!  that  I  might  wake  up  and  find  myself 
Daddie  once  more,  and  all  the  rest  a  hideous  dream.  If 
only  a  kind  and  encouraging  word  had  been  given  to  me 


54  MISTER  BILL 

sometimes  I  might  have  been  different  and  better.  Oh! 
why  are  harsh  words  so  free — so  easy  to  give?" 

"You  have  been  unfortunate,  Daddie,  in  seeing  only  that 
side—" 

"But  you — you  respect  all  of  God's  creatures  no  mat- 
ter whether  they  are  poor  devils  of  men  and  women,  or 
nobody's  dog  with  a  broken  leg  that  you  pick  up  in  the 
street,  and  carry  home  to  your  cabin — Oh,  yes,  I  know! 
You  know  that  we  have  hearts  and  feelings  as  well  as  the 
men  that  make  us  what  we  are.  You  know  that  we  don't 
all  have  the  same  chance,  and  maybe  some  of  the  fine 
folks  that  think  we  poison  the  air  they  breathe  wouldn't 
be  so  much  better  if  they  got  the  same  start — maybe  some 
of  us  might  be  pitied  as  well  as  kicked  and  cussed.  But  I 
mustn't  keep  you  here  no  longer,"  she  cried,  stifling  her 
sobs,  "I  came  to  warn  you  and — to  ask  something  of 
you." 

"What  would  you  ask  of  me,  Daddie?" 

"I  know  you  will  understand,"  she  said,  with  some  hes- 
itation, "and  it's  not  so  much  to  ask — you.  You  will  do 
it  anyhow,  but  I  shall  feel  better  for  asking.  He  has 
made  me  what  I  am,  but  I  don't  hold  any  spite  against 
him,  anyhow  I  don't  want  any  revenge.  But  he  has  an 
old  mother  somewhere  East  that  ain't  so  many  more 
years  to  live,  and  if  it's  any  satisfaction  for  her  to  know 
he's  alive,  I'm  willing  for  her  to  have  it.  His  name  is 
my  name,  which  ain't  much  to  brag  about,  but  it  means 
something  even  to  me — " 

"I  know,  Daddie." 

"But  some  time,"  she  continued,  her  eyes  flashing,  and 
her  whole  demeanor  undergoing  a  sudden  change,  "they 
may  get  you  into  a  corner,  and  you  will  have  to  fight  back. 


"DADDIE"  55 

If  he  gets  in  your  way,  don't  take  any  chances,  but  crush 
him — crush  him  as  you  would  a  snake.  You  have  too 
much  at  stake — too  much  depends  upon  you — to  give 
the  pack  barking  and  snarling  at  your  heels  a  chance  to 
pull  you  down.  It's  not  for  him,  but  for  his  old  mother, 
and — Daddie.  Good-bye,  Mister  Bill,  and  God  bless  you," 
she  cried,  thrusting  out  her  hand,  only  to  as  quickly  draw 
it  back,  and  darting  past  him,  rushed  wildly  down  the 
trail. 

He  watched  her  until  she  disappeared,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded on  his  way  more  slowly  and  thoughtfully.  Mex- 
ico trailed  along  unbidden  and  apparently  forgotten  for 
some  distance,  when  slowly  and  with  seeming  solicitous 
inquiry,  the  intelligent  head  was  thrust  gently  forward 
over  his  master's  shoulder. 

"That's  right,  Mex,  you  rascal,  I'm  not  very  sociable 
this  morning,"  he  said  to  his  faithful  follower,  pausing 
for  a  moment  and  stroking  the  animal's  head.  "But  you 
must  forgive  me  this  time,  old  fellow,  and  we'll  not  al- 
low it  to  occur  again.  Come  on  now,  before  we  get  into 
any  more  trouble,  and  we'll  see  what  wonderful  surprise 
ling  has  for  us." 


CHAPTER  VI 
LING'S  "STLISE" 

THE  cabin  towards  which  the  young  man  was 
making  his  way  differed  little  in  external  appear- 
ance from  several  others  in  its  immediate  vicin- 
ity, but  in  the  interior  the  individuality  of  its 
owner  was  distinctly  in  evidence.  One  side  of  the  large 
room  was  given  over  almost  exclusively  to  a  rather  im- 
posing collection  of  books;  he  had  gathered  about  him 
a  well-selected  company  of  entertaining  and  instructive 
companions.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  room  was  a 
large  drafting-board  arrangement,  drawers  and  shelves 
containing  specimens  of  rocks  and  ores,  jars  and  bottles 
of  dust  and  dirt,  all  carefully  labeled  and  arranged.  Sev- 
eral easy  chairs,  three  or  four  large  lamps,  a  couch  on 
which  was  piled  a  small  mountain  of  pillows,  and  a  large 
square  table  in  the  center  of  the  room,  made  up  the  con- 
spicuous furnishings  of  the  cabin.  Amid  these  homely 
but  comfortable  surroundings  he  spent  many  solitary  hours 
— alone  but  never  lonely: — frequently  working  far  into 
the  night  over  some  complex  problem  of  finance,  law,  or 
mechanical  detail  pertaining  to  the  mines.  His  simple 
life  and  temperate  habits  enabled  him  to  perform  seem- 
ingly herculean  labors,  but  which  in  reality  were  little 
more  than  the  natural  expression  of  a  healthy  and  well- 
balanced  mind  and  body.  Aided  by  an  indomitable  will 

56 


LING'S  "S'PLISE"  57 

to  conquer  every  obstacle  that  stood  in  his  way,  he  had 
not  only  made  himself  familiar  with  the  various  trades 
and  professions  necessary  to  the  development  and  suc- 
cessful working  of  mines,  but  had  made  himself  prac- 
tically an  expert  in  several  of  the  departments.  Like 
most  men  who  succeed  in  mastering  themselves,  no  less 
than  their  professions,  he  was  extremely  modest  con- 
cerning his  abilities,  and  performed  his  manifold  duties 
without  apparent  effort,  and  little  or  no  friction  with  the 
large  number  of  men  under  his  immediate  supervision. 

"Sorry  to  keep  you  waiting,  boys — I  was  delayed  down 
below,"  he  briefly  explained  upon  his  arrival  at  the  cabin, 
as  he  relieved  Mexico  of  saddle  and  bridle  and  turned 
him  loose.  "Breakfast  ready,  Ling?"  he  inquired,  as  the 
China  boy's  grinning  countenance  appeared  at  the  cook- 
room  window. 

"Him  all  leddy,  Mister  Bill — heap  good  s'plise,"  he 
chuckled,  as  he  returned  to  his  work. 

The  "boys"  were  apparently  fifty  years  or  more  of  age, 
David  Bishop  and  Joseph  Sutter,  by  name,  co-workers 
and  directors  in  the  big  mining  company.  They  occu- 
pied a  nearby  cabin,  and  "grubbed"  with  the  young  man 
at  a  common  table. 

"We  know  all  about  it,  Mister  Bill,"  said  Joe,  as  he 
led  the  way  into  the  cabin. 

"Seems  like  you  took  a  mighty  sight  of  trouble  to  save 
the  hide  of  that  good-for-nothin'  Tenderfoot,"  growled 
Dave,  in  evident  disapproval,  as  they  took  their  places 
at  the  table. 

"Well,  yes,  it  might  appear  that  way,  David — from 
your  point  of  view." 

"Don't  see  what  difference  the  p'int  of  view  makes," 


58  MISTER  BILL 

returned  Dave,  with  considerable  warmth.  "He's  a  no- 
account  Tenderfoot  from  any  and  every  p'int  of  the  com- 
pass." 

"Even  so,  I  could  not  stand  by  and  see  the  poor  devil 
used  as  a  football — or  worse,"  said  the  young  man,  ap- 
parently not  in  the  least  disturbed  by  the  disapproval  of 
the  elder  men. 

"You  didn't  have  to  break  your  neck  gettin'  into  the 
scrimmage,"  Joe  suggested  with  embarrassing  frankness. 

"I  believe  in  lettin'  natur'  take  her  course.  I  reckon 
she  knows  best,  and  'peared  like  she  had  some  dirty  work 
on  hand  this  mornin'  when  you  jumped  in  and  upset 
things.  Mighty  serious  business  interferin'  with  natur'," 
Dave  solemnly  declared. 

"That  chap  has  been  in  this  'ere  country  for  nigh  on 
to  fifteen  years  to  my  knowin',  and  he's  a  tenderfoot  yet 
— and  he'll  never  be  no  different.  He's  mighty  handy 
pickin'  up  low-down  tricks,  but  nothin'  decent  'pears  able 
to  stick  to  him,"  said  Joe. 

"Great  excitement  in  China  this  mornin',"  said  Dave, 
under  his  breath,  as  Ling  trotted  briskly  into  the  room, 
and  placing  a  steaming  bowl  of  mush  before  each  man, 
shuffled  out  again  grinning  and  chuckling  to  himself. 
"Runnin'  under  purty  high  pressure — liable  to  blow  up 
if  he  don't  let  off  steam  middlin'  soon.  What  do  you 
cal'late  Tenderfoot's  up  to  now,  Mister  Bill  ?"  he  inquired, 
returning  to  the  subject  under  discussion. 

"Any  idee  what  low-down  mischief  he's  up  to?"  asked 
Joe,  as  a  reply  was  not  forthcoming. 

"Yes,  I  have  several  ideas,  but  they  will  not  tend  to 
raise  the  gentleman  in  your  estimation." 


LING'S  "S'PLISE"  59 

"Let  her  go,  Mister  Bill — he  sure  can't  go  no  lower," 
said  Dave. 

"Well,  Dave,  my  ideas,  like  the  points  of  your  com- 
pass, all  tend  to  one  conclusion.  Tenderfoot  and  his  pals 
are  spying  on  Consolidated  Properties  in  the  interest 
of  certain  Eastern  capitalists." 

"What!"  shouted  astonished  Dave  Bishop,  staring  at 
the  young  man  in  open-mouthed  amazement,  "and  know- 
in'  all  that  you  jump  in  and  save  his  miserable  life? 
That's  what  I  call  puttin'  a  bounty  on  a  chap's  cussed- 
ness." 

"Some  crowd  or  other  seems  to  be  holdin'  a  gun  at  our 
heads  most  of  the  time ;  and  I  reckon  they  will  so  long  as 
they  think  it's  worth  their  while,"  said  Joe,  with  keen  dis- 
gust. 

"Seein'  as  how  you've  been  kind  enough  to  give  the 
varmit  a  rope  to  hang  us  with,  what  are  we  goin'  to  do 
about  it?  Jest  hang  'round  sort  of  easy-like,  and  wait  to 
be  strung  up?"  inquired  Dave,  with  grave  sarcasm. 

"That  is  only  another  point  of  view,  David.  I  have 
given  him  a  rope,  yes — to  hang  himself,"  replied  the 
young  man,  quietly  amused  at  the  surprise  and  indigna- 
tion of  the  elder  men. 

"I  'low  I  don't  see  much  beyond  the  p'int  of  my  nose, 
Mister  Bill,"  said  Dave,  quite  helplessly. 

"It  ain't  so  clear  to  me  as  it  might  be,"  Joe  was  forced 
to  admit. 

"Well,  then,  it  occurred  to  me  that  so  much  general 
cussedness  concentrated  in  one  individual  might  be  made 
to  serve  some  good  purpose  if  it  could  only  be  rightly 
directed." 

"I  pass,"  said  Dave,  with  a  hopeless  shake  of  his  head. 


60  MISTER  BILL 

"I  ain't  doubtin'  but  you'll  do  what  you  say,  Mister  Bill, 
but  I'm  mighty  curious  to  know  how  you  expect  to  turn 
the  current  of  a  river  and  make  it  run  up  stream." 

"By  me,  too — I  ain't  in  the  game.  How  you  goin'  to 
do  it,  Mister  Bill,  if  it  ain't  no  great  secret?"  inquired 
Joe,  with  considerable  curiosity. 

"To  be  perfectly  frank,  Joe,  I  don't  know;  but  I 
thought  I  might  figure  it  out  now  that  I  have  the  general 
dimensions  of  the  problem,"  quietly  replied  the  young 
man,  whose  appetite  seemed  not  in  the  least  affected  by 
the  serious  aspect  of  the  situation  in  the  estimation  of  his 
companions. 

"You  can't  do  it  none  too  quick  to  my  way  of  think- 
in',  Mister  Bill,"  said  Dave,  very  positively. 

"We  agree  perfectly  on  that  point — " 

"What's  happened  to  that  highbinder  now  ?"  exclaimed 
Dave,  as  a  wild  Mongolian  yell  rang  out.  "I  was  feared 
he'd  blow  up,"  he  solemnly  affirmed.  An  unintelligible 
jumble  of  broken  English,  and  a  rapid  scampering  of  feet 
followed  the  first  wild  outbreak,  and  Ling  burst  into 
the  room,  a  pitiable  picture  of  tearful  consternation  and 
helpless  despair. 

"Old  Mexico,  he  velly  bad  horse — him  no  good!"  he 
cried,  wiping  his  eyes  with  his  white  apron,  and  with  dif- 
ficulty refraining  from  sobbing  outright.  "S'plise  all 
gone — Mexico  eat  him  all  up,  Mister  Bill." 

"What  was  the  surprise — what  did  old  Mexico  eat, 
Ling?"  inquired  the  owner  of  the  maligned  animal,  very 
seriously. 

"Mister  Bill,  he  say  apple  pie  heap  good — he  like  him 
velly  much.  Me  send  long  way  off  and  get  apple — make 
two  velly  fine  apple  pies — heap  big.  Me  put  'em  on  shelf 


LING'S  "S'PLISE"  61 

out  doors,  old  Mexico  come  along  and  eat  him  one — like 
him  velly  good — eat  him  two — all  gone — no  more.  Mis- 
ter Bill  get  no  s'plise — old  Mexico  catch  'em  all — me  heap 
mad !"  he  cried,  and  fled  from  the  room  deaf  to  all  com- 
miseration. 

"You'll  sure  have  to  take  the  will  for  the  deed  this 
time,  Mister  Bill,"  said  Dave,  more  soberly  than  was  his 
wont.  "There's  a  sight  more  human  natur'  inside  his 
yaller  hide  than  I  had  any  idee." 


CHAPTER  VII 
THE  TEST  OF  THE  METAL 

IN  the  still  gray  light  of  the  early  dawn,  high  up  on 
the  summit  of  the  hill  rising  steep  and  abrupt  above 
the  little  town,  might  have  been  discerned  the  soli- 
tary figure  of  a  man  outlined  against  the  sombre 
mountain  side.  Straight  and  silent  he  stood,  gazing 
steadfastly  off  into  the  distance.  At  his  feet  lay  his  sole 
companion,  a  splendid  pointer,  that  now  and  again  looked 
up  inquiringly  at  his  master,  and  receiving  no  acknowl- 
edgment of  his  presence  closed  his  eyes  and  possessed  his 
canine  soul  in  peace.  As  the  child  to  the  father  was  this 
little  town — this  thriving  field  of  industry — to  him  who 
stood  like  a  sentinel  of  the  night  watching  over  its  sleep. 
He  had  seen  it  grow  with  strong  and  sturdy  strides  from 
the  infant  to  man's  estate ;  he  had  seen  it  steadily  acquir- 
ing the  power  that  was  to  turn  upon  and  dispute  pos- 
session with  him  who  gave  it  birth.  The  time  had  come. 
All  his  earlier  efforts,  his  trials  and  triumphs,  had  been 
but  the  preparation  for  the  final  struggle  that  must  now 
be  fought  to  victory  or  defeat.  That  which  was  his  by 
right  of  discovery,  the  fruits  of  his  labors — even  his  life, 
if  circumstances  required — were  the  spoils  demanded  by 
his  powerful  and  unscrupulous  enemy. 

His  had  been  the  first  hand  to  drive  a  stake  on  that 
hillside  when,  only  a  little  more  than  four  years  before, 

62 


THE  TEST  OF  THE  METAL  63 

he  and  his  two  companions  with  their  small  pack-train 
had  climbed  slowly  and  wearily  up  from  the  valley  in 
quest  of  the  rich  veins  of  mineral  which  he  believed  lay 
hidden  among  those  rugged  hills.  Day  after  day  they 
had  toiled  on  in  the  same  monotonous,  discouraging,  yet 
persistent  search,  until  their  patience  was  finally  rewarded, 
and  the  secret  hiding  place  of  nature's  treasure  was  laid 
bare.  Almost  immediately  the  hillside  and  surrounding 
country  echoed  to  the  sound  of  pick  and  drill.  A  camp 
sprang  up  in  a  night — a  town  seemed  to  emerge  from 
the  very  mountain  side.  Wonderful  tales  of  the  fabulous 
wealth  stored  in  these  hills  spread  broadcast  over  the 
land,  and  hundreds  flocked  to  the  new  Eldorado.  Com- 
panies large  and  small  were  exploited,  and  their  shares 
of  stock  greedily  taken  by  a  susceptible  and  speculative 
public  almost  before  the  ink  was  dry  on  the  certifi- 
cates, or  a  clod  of  Dearth  turned  on  the  claims.  A  monster 
company  to  work  the  mountain  side  on  a  mammoth 
scale  was  put  into  operation,  with  a  facility  which  spoke 
not  less  eloquently  for  the  marvelous  energies  of  its  pro- 
moters, than  for  the  credulity  of  the  public.  Its  stock 
was  quickly  at  a  premium,  and  to  meet  the  insistent  de- 
mands of  this  same  credulous  public,  its  accommodating 
promoters  doubled,  and  finally  trebled  the  stock,  which 
went  soaring  to  fabulous  figures.  There  seemed  no  limit 
to  the  possibilities  of  these  wonderful  properties  as  viewed 
by  their  promoters.  A  railroad  was  indispensable  to  the 
successful  working  of  this  mammoth  plant,  and  the  pro- 
ject was  carried  through  with  the  same  wild  hurrah  that 
had  characterized  their  previous  operations.  While  ex- 
citement ran  at  fever  heat,  and  speculation  was  rife  as 
to  the  point  the  stock  would  ultimately  reach,  there  sud- 


64  MISTER  BILL 

denly  came  from  out  an  apparently  clear  sky  a  blinding 
and  stupefying  crash  that  shook  the  new  company  to  its 
very  foundations.  Without  a  moment's  warning  a  re- 
port went  forth  from  the  mines  that  the  veins,  which 
were  popularly  supposed  to  be  inexhaustible,  had  been 
lost.  Down  tumbled  the  stock,  the  phenomenal  gains  of 
weeks  melting  away  in  a  night.  Not  until  the  stock  had 
fallen  considerably  below  its  par  value  and  thousands  of 
the  shareholders  shaken  out,  were  the  veins  picked  up — 
or  so  reported  from  the  mines — and  the  stock  permitted 
to  climb  slowly  back  into  popular  favor.  For  a  while  all 
seemed  serene,  and  the  confidence  of  the  public  was  once 
more  restored,  when  the  mines  were  suddenly  discovered 
to  be  flooded,  and  down  went  the  stock  to  even  a  lower 
figure  than  before — in  short,  the  properties  had  simply 
been  made  the  tool  of  the  few  to  gull  the  many. 

In  the  adjoining  claims  a  smaller  company  had  sunk 
its  shafts,  and  had  successfully  prosecuted  its  work  of 
development  and  production.  Unfortunately  for  its  own- 
ers, however,  their  more  modest  property  was  made  to 
suffer  through  the  erratic  movements  of  the  larger  com- 
pany, as  the  same  conditions  were  generally  supposed  to 
prevail  in  each.  They  rarely  profited  by  these  fluctua- 
tions as  they  had  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  movements 
of  the  stock-jobbers  only  as  their  own  stock  went  soar- 
ing up  or  tumbling  down  hard  on  the  heels  of  their  neigh- 
bor's— they  were  as  much  in  the  dark  as  was  the  public 
at  large. 

Finally,  in  self  defence,  they  succeeded,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  capital  interested  on  the  strength  of  the  known 
value  of  their  own  property,  and  the  real,  or  supposed 
value  of  their  neighbor's,  in  securing  control  of  the  big 


THE  TEST  OF  THE  METAL  65 

company.  Instead  of  freeing  themselves  from  the  influ- 
ence of  the  stock-jobbers,  they  now  found  themselves 
the  direct  object  of  attack  of  their  former  neighbors,  who 
lost  no  opportunity  of  harassing  them  at  every  turn. 

The  properties  had  been  so  conspicuously  before  the 
public  and  their  wonderful  possibilities  so  strongly  cred- 
ited despite  their  erratic  movements,  that  a  phenomenal 
"strike"  was  believed  to  be  only  a  question  of  time,  and 
the  susceptible  followers  seemed  ever  willing  to  take  at 
least  one  more  chance  rather  than  to  miss  the  golden  op- 
portunity of  their  lives,  as  they  seemed  to  regard  it. 
Under  these  circumstances  very  little  was  required  to 
start  the  stock  moving  up,  and  even  less  to  topple  it  down, 
the  new  owners  being  still  helpless  to  prevent  the  violent 
fluctuations. 

In  the  meantime  the  Eastern  Syndicate  had  invaded  the 
field,  and  the  Properties  almost  immediately  became  the 
bone  of  contention  of  the  two  great  money  powers,  each 
employing  its  own  peculiar  methods.  While  the  big 
Syndicate  had  now  been  effectually  disposed  of,  the  im- 
mediate resources  of  the  company,  never  large,  had  prac- 
tically been  exhausted  in  the  long  fight  with  its  powerful 
rival,  and  in  securing  a  controlling  interest  in  the  rail- 
road. To  complicate  matters,  the  old  crowd  had  suc- 
ceeded in  forcing  the  price  of  the  stock  down  to  the  low- 
est point  in  its  history,  and  gave  every  evidence  of  their 
intention  as  well  as  their  ability  to  keep  it  down,  thus 
preventing  its  owners  from  realizing  on  their  holdings. 
This,  then,  was  the  latest  invention  of  the  enemy.  The 
trap  had  been  laid  with  a  cunning  appreciation  of  the 
necessities  of  the  company  when  it  should  emerge  from 
its  fight  with  the  Syndicate. 


66  MISTER  BILL 

Money — a  considerable  sum — must  be  forthcoming  for 
further  improvement  and  development  of  the  mines,  or 
operations  would  soon  cease.  Clearly  the  old  enemy  was 
a  menace  to  the  prosperity  of  the  Properties ;  he  must 
be  disposed  of,  and  that  most  effectually,  before  anything 
like  permanent  prosperity  could  be  hoped  for. 

Such  was  the  situation  confronting  the  young  president 
and  manager  of  the  properties.  Such  was  the  prob- 
lem with  which  he  had  been  wrestling  nearly  the  whole 
night  long.  Had  he  been  over  ambitious  and  taken  upon 
himself  too  great  a  responsibility — a  responsibility  which 
older  men  had  declared  was  beyond  his  years  and  ex- 
perience? Had  he  escaped  the  snares  of  one  enemy  only 
to  fall  into  the  pit  of  another?  Were  those  who  had  in- 
vested their  money  at  his  solicitation  and  because  of  their 
faith  in  him  to  suffer  a  loss — was  he  to  fail  them  at  the 
crucial  time?  Must  he  throw  up  his  hands  and  surren- 
der himself  and  his  friends  to  their  common  enemy? 
Must  he,  indeed? 

Erect  and  rigid  he  stood — deep  his  thoughts  and  tense 
his  gaze.  Stranger  alike  to  weakening  back,  or  quaking 
knees  was  that  superb  physique.  Admit  defeat — not  un- 
til he  was  laid  on  his  back.  Fight — to  the  very  last  ditch. 
Throw  up  his  hands — never. 

Slowly  the  sun  rose  over  the  distant  mountain  tops  and 
streaked  the  east  with  gray ;  warmth  and  light  had  come 
upon  the  earth.  Slowly  the  tension  of  his  features  re- 
laxed ;  a  softer  light  shone  in  his  eyes — a  smile  was  on  his 
lips.  Night  was  past,  and  day  had  dawned. 

"I  have  it!"  he  exclaimed,  glancing  about  him  as  from 
a  sudden  awakening,  "I  have  it  at  last,  old  fellow!"  he 
laughed,  stooping  down  and  fondling  the  patient  animal 


THE  TEST  OF  THE  METAL  67 

that  sprang  to  his  feet  at  the  first  sound  of  his  master's 
voice.  "You  are  a  good  dog,  Seneca — you  have  been 
very  patient  with  your  morose  old  master.  We'll  go 
home  now.  It  is  a  wise  dog  that  knows  his  limitations," 
he  genially  declared,  as  he  straightened  up,  and  made 
ready  to  descend  the  trail. 

"Ah!  Tis  grand — this  old  world  of  ours!"  he  ex- 
claimed, with  almost  reverential  simplicity,  as  he  paused 
a  moment  to  contemplate  the  wondrous  scene  of  chang- 
ing lights  and  shadows.  "  'Tis  truly  a  marvelous  handi- 
work," he  gently  breathed,  "a  glorious  habitat  for  man. 
Oh,  you  poor  devil,  man !"  he  sighed,  after  a  short  inter- 
val of  silent  contemplation,  his  mood  suddenly  changing. 
"How  you  fight  and  kill!  How  you  fawn  and  grovel! 
How  you  debase  and  debauch  your  better  self  in  the  mad 
struggle  for  the  paltry  things  of  earth  which  leave  the 
richest  of  your  kind  but  the  merest  pauper  compared  with 
the  wealth  you  cast  aside — the  wealth  of  soul  exchanged 
for  the  dross  of  earth,  because  you  are  too  mad  to  heed — 
too  blind  to  see.  Verily,  the  ways  of  man  surpass  all  un- 
derstanding— 'tis  but  a  poor  tribute  he  offers  to  the  Cre- 
ator of  this  great  and  wonderful  universe.  No,  Sen- 
eca, I  am  not  talking  to  you,  but  to  a  very  superior  crea- 
ture called  a  man,  who  is  heartily  ashamed  of  himself, 
and  his  little  insignificant  thoughts.  Lead  on,  you  ras- 
cal— we  have  schemed  enough." 

"Figured  it  out,  Mister  Bill?"  inquired  Dave,  as  the 
young  man  strode  briskly  into  the  office  a  few  minutes 
later.  "I  reckon  you  turned  out  purty  early  this  morn- 
in' — or  maybe  you  didn't  turn  in?" 

"Leave  for  Denver  to-night,  Dave,"  he  briefly  replied. 


68  MISTER  BILL 

"You  don't  say  so?  I  reckon  you  didn't  lose  your  sleep 
for  nothin'.  Whose  goin'  to  run  the  works  while  you're 
gone  ?" 

"For  the  next  few  weeks  they  will  be  run  for  the  ben- 
efit of  certain  individuals  who  are  interested  in  our  af- 
fairs. We  will  give  Tenderfoot  and  his  pals  all  the  rope 
they  want." 

"All  right,  Mister  Bill,  anythin'  you  say  goes  even  to 
blowin'  the  works  sky  high." 

"We  will  try  the  effect  of  a  little  explosive  agency  on 
the  other  fellow  before  taking  the  treatment  ourselves, 
Dave." 

"Mighty  little  difference  between  rope  and  powder — 
lands  a  chap  in  purty  much  the  same  place,  I  reckon." 

"Depends  upon  which  end  of  the  rope  you  happen  to 
be  attached,  Dave.  Don't  forget  that  in  your  reckoning. 
For  the  present  we  shall  devote  our  best  efforts  to  keep- 
ing away  from  the  business  end  of  the  string.  Any  ob- 
jections to  offer?" 

"Nary  a  one,  Mister  Bill.  That  suits  your  Uncle  Dave 
down  to  the  ground." 


CHAPTER  VIII 
NO  FLAW 

MR.  WINSOR  GODDARD,  banker,  mining 
man  and  several  times  millionaire,  of  Den- 
ver, Colorado,  was  seated  at  his  desk  in  his 
private  office  in  the  rear  of  the  large  bank- 
ing room  looking  over  his  morning  mail.  Close  at  hand 
lay  a  telegram  at  which  he  occasionally  glanced  as  if 
some  further  meaning  or  perchance  a  different  interpre- 
tation might  be  drawn  from  the  brief  message.  When 
the  last  letter  had  received  his  attention  he  called  his  chief 
clerk,  with  whom  he  held  a  brief  consultation,  and  to 
whose  care  he  consigned  the  pile  of  letters.  When  he 
was  alone  he  again  slowly  read  the  telegram,  settled  him- 
self comfortably  in  his  chair,  and  apparently  gave  him- 
self up  to  deep  meditation.  He  was  not  permitted  to  re- 
main long  undisturbed,  as  a  clerk  entered  almost  imme- 
diately and  announced  a  visitor.  "Let  him  come  right  in," 
he  promptly  directed,  once  more  the  brisk  man  of  busi- 
ness. 

"Good  morning,  Mister  Bill — glad  to  see  you,  young 
man,"  was  his  hearty  salutation,  giving  his  visitor  a  cor- 
dial hand-clasp.  "I  have  been  studying  your  telegram  and 
speculating  upon  the  nature  of  this  important  business. 
I  believe  I  have  even  permitted  myself  to  indulge  the 
hope  that  it  may  relate  in  some  way  to  that  old  proposition 

69 


70  MISTER  BILL 

of  mine — which  is  still  open,  if  you  care  to  accept  it," 
he  added,  regarding  his  visitor  questioningly. 

"There  are  several  holes  in  the  ground  down  there  in 
New  Mexico  that  require  my  most  devoted  attention  for 
the  present,  Mr.  Goddard." 

"I  imagined  as  much.  We  have  heard  considerable 
about  that  surprise  you  sprung  on  the  old  Consolidated 
crowd,  as  well  as  your  recent  set-to  with  the  Hillman  com- 
bination. They  are  an  unscrupulous  lot,"  he  declared, 
shaking  his  head,  "You  served  them  well." 

"The  real  struggle  is  to  come — we  have  staked  all  on 
this  final  effort  to  free  ourselves  from  our  tormentors." 

"Opinions  seem  to  differ  as  to  the  outcome  of  this  fight 
with  your  old  enemy.  Some  incline  to  believe  that  it 
was  part  of  the  game  to  allow  you  to  secure  possession 
of  the  mines  in  order  to  create  a  little  excitement  and  at 
the  proper  time  draw  the  public  into  a  fight  to  regain 
control  of  the  Properties — merely  another  way  of  play- 
ing the  same  old  game.  Others  think  you  capable  of  tak- 
ing care  of  yourself,  and  incidentally,  of  the  crowd  of 
sharps  with  which  you  have  to  deal." 

"And  you,  sir?"  queried  the  young  man,  the  slightest 
suggestion  of  a  smile  hovering  about  the  corners  of  his 
mouth. 

"I  am  free  to  confess,  young  man,  that  I  am  not  wast- 
ing any  of  my  sympathy  on  you,"  declared  Mr.  Goddard, 
with  an  assumption  of  indifference.  "Nevertheless,  we  are 
all  quite  curious  to  know  how  you  expect  to  restore  pub- 
lic confidence  in  your  mines,  and  at  the  same  time  hold 
the  old  crowd  at  bay." 

"By  the  simplest  and  most  direct  means  at  my  com- 
mand, Mr.  Goddard,"  promptly  replied  the  young  man. 


NO  FLAW  71 

"I  shall  fight  them  at  their  own  game;  on  their  own 
grounds — to  a  finish.  I  shall  restore  public  confidence  in 
the  Properties  by  running  them  on  business  principles, 
and  giving  each  man  a  fair  and  square  run  for  his  money." 

"Spoken  like  the  man  that  you  are,  Mister  Bill,"  im- 
pulsively exclaimed  Mr.  Goddard,  bringing  his  hand 
down  on  the  broad  shoulder  of  the  other  with  forcible  ap- 
proval. "That's  the  spirit,  young  man,  that  cannot  fail 
to  succeed — your  fight  is  already  half  won." 

"Thank  you,  sir,  I  am  glad  to  have  your  approval," 
said  the  younger  man,  with  simple  frankness.  "This  is 
practically  a  single-handed  fight  on  my  side,  and  a  pat 
on  the  back  from  the  right  source  carries  the  weight 
of  a  sledge  hammer." 

"I  see  there  is  little  hope  of  your  considering  my  prop- 
osition," said  Mr.  Goddard,  regarding  his  visitor  with 
thoughtful  interest.  "I  have  been  at  a  loss  to  understand 
your  persistent  refusal  to  even  seriously  consider  this 
position — a  position  I  believe  I  am  not  overestimating  in 
saying,  would  be  regarded  by  the  average  young  man  as 
the  opportunity  of  his  life." 

"I  believe  it  to  be  quite  all  you  say,  sir." 

"I  wish  to  be  relieved  of  the  immediate  care  and  re- 
sponsibility of  my  rather  extensive  mining  interests — 
there  are  too  many  diversified  claims  upon  my  time. 
Moreover,  I  realize  my  limitations.  I  am  not  so  robust 
as  I  was  some  years  back,  and  I  want  a  vigorous,  capa- 
ble, honest  young  man  to  take  the  field  in  my  place,  and 
to  assume  the  active  management  of  my  outside  inter- 
ests. The  position  is  not  a  difficult  one  to  fill;  in  fact, 
the  place  is  ready-made,  and  a  man  has  but  to  step  into 
it  and  keep  the  wheels  in  motion.  The  heavier  respon- 


72  MISTER  BILL 

sibilities  devolve  upon  me,  and  he  has  but  to  work  under 
my  supervision.  Certainly,  young  man,  you  do  not  think 
me  a  hard  and  disagreeable  task-master?"  he  inquired, 
with  a  kindly  smile. 

"Believe  me,  sir,  I  thoroughly  appreciate  the  honor  you 
do  me — " 

"Yes !  yes !"  interposed  Mr.  Goddard,  "I  know  all  about 
that.  We  will  assume  that  the  honor  I  would  confer  upon 
you  is  great.  We  will  also  assume  that  your  very  pro- 
found appreciation  of  that  honor  prompts  you  to  throw 
it  unhesitatingly  over  your  shoulder.  What  then  ?" 

"To  be  perfectly  frank,  Mr.  Goddard,  I  don't  think  that 
I  am  especially  well  fitted  for  this  particular  position. 
There  are  plenty  of  capable  young  fellows  possessing  the 
qualifications  you  mention — plenty,  I  dare  say,  who  would 
consider  it  the  opportunity  of  their  lives  to  step  into  a 
ready-made  position." 

"I  see!  I  see!  A  light  begins  to  dawn  upon  me. 
And  so,  young  man,"  he  said,  looking  severely  over  the 
tops  of  his  glasses,  "you  will  have  none  of  my  ready- 
made  position ;  you  will  fight  your  own  battles ;  you  will 
make  or  break  by  your  own  unaided  efforts.  Am  I 
right?" 

"You  have  hit  the  nail  just  about  on  the  head,  sir.  I 
enjoy  the  work,  the  excitement  of  the  struggle,  and  best 
of  all,  the  satisfaction  that  comes  with  success  fairly 
won.  I  don't  mind  an  occasional  set-back,  and  even  a 
fair  and  square  knock-down  is  not  without  its  compen- 
sating features.  This  life  is  a  great  problem,  but  if  it 
means  anything,  it  means  that  each  man  must  make  his 
own  fight,  and  develop  the  best  that  is  in  him  by  an 
honest  struggle  with  the  very  difficulties  that  so  many  of 


NO  FLAW  73 

us  seek  to  avoid.  I  may  be  wrong  sir.  That  is  only  my 
conception  of  the  great  scheme,  but  it's  a  poor  builder 
who  lacks  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and  refuses  to 
work  out  the  plans  of  his  architect  according  to  his  best 
understanding." 

"There  is  food  for  reflection  in  what  you  say,  Mister 
Bill,  even  for  an  old  man.  I  have  nothing  more  to  say 
except  that  I  heartily  commend  your  spirit — would  that 
more  possessed  it  in  common,"  he  added  under  his 
breath.  "But  what  of  this  important  business,  young 
man?  What  would  you  have  of  me?" 

"I  would  have,"  replied  the  young  man,  appropriat- 
ing a  small  figuring  tablet,  and  drawing  with  careful 
deliberation  the  figure  five,  to  which  he  annexed  with 
equal  care  several  well-defined  circles,  "I  would  have," 
he  repeated,  as  he  prefixed  the  sign  of  dollars,  "a  call  on 
that  amount  for  say  sixty  days,"  pushing  the  tablet  along 
the  desk  in  front  of  the  other,  "not  a  cent  less,"  he  add- 
ed, very  positively,  looking  the  elder  man  straight  in  the 
eye. 

"Your  greatest  detractors  would  never  accuse  you  of 
littleness  of  thought  or  conception,  Mister  Bill,"  said 
the  banker,  regarding  the  young  man  with  an  amused 
twinkle  in  his  eyes,  after  a  prolonged  scrutiny  of  the 
figures. 

"Men  think  according  to  their  natures — the  ground 
hog  is  not  equipped  for  the  flight  of  the  pigeon." 

"All  right,  Mister  Bill,  we  will  see  what  can  be  done. 
When  do  you  leave?" 

"To-night—" 

"Oh,  Dad !  I  have  been  waiting  ever  so  long  for  you 
to  finish  with  Mister  Bill.  The  wheels  of  commerce  must 


74  MISTER  BILL 

stop  for  a  few  minutes,"  interrupted  a  laughing  voice, 
as  a  young  woman  ushered  herself  into  the  office.  "How 
are  you,  Mister  Bill?"  she  briskly  inquired,  extending  a 
prettily  gloved  hand.  "I  saw  you  enter  the  bank  as  I 
was  driving  by.  I  suppose  you  are  aware,  sir,  that  you 
are  in  my  bad  books — I  really  should  not  deign  to  notice 
you.  But  that's  my  forgiving  nature — it  is  a  downright 
misfortune  to  have  so  little  control  over  oneself,"  she 
declared  with  great  good  humor. 

"Beware,  Mister  Bill,  how  you  trespass  upon  this 
young  woman's  good  nature.  You  see  how  terrible  is  her 
displeasure,"  warned  the  father. 

"Dear  old  dad  speaks  from  sad  experience,"  she 
laughed,  seating  herself  on  the  arm  of  his  great  easy 
chair.  "He  is  not  free  from  me  even  in  business  hours. 
I  am  sure,  dad,  you  have  talked  with  Mister  Bill  quite 
long  enough;  you  surely  cannot  have  anything  more  to 
say  to  him." 

"Mister  Bill  has  important  business,  my  dear,  and  he 
may  not  be  able  to  give  you  much  of  his  time — " 

"Sir!"  she  indignantly  exclaimed.  "Business  should 
never  be  permitted  to  interfere  with  the  desires  of  a  young 
woman.  We  have  been  hearing  all  sorts  of  strange  and 
wonderful  things  about  you,  Mister  Bill,  and  I  shall  want 
to  know  all  about  them  from  your  own  lips.  Please  go 
on  and  finish  your  business,  dad,  because  I  want  to  carry 
him  off  with  me." 

"Better  go  along  with  her,  Mister  Bill — you  will  have 
no  peace  until  you  do.  Business  can  be  deferred,  but  not 
the  wishes  of  this  young  woman,"  said  Mr.  Goddard. 
"She  has  a  stable  full  of  all  kinds  of  wild  and  untamed 
beasts,  two  or  three  new  rigs,  and  I  don't  know  what  not. 


NO  FLAW  75 

She  won't  be  satisfied  until  you  have  seen  the  whole  cir- 
cus." 

"Dad  knows,"  she  laughed,  her  eyes  sparkling  with 
merriment ;  "Dad  knows  to  his  sorrow.  Your  coming 
is  most  opportune,  Mister  Bill.  Any  number  of  things 
are  going  on,  and  I  am  hardly  on  speaking  terms  with 
a  man  of  my  acquaintance ;  you  are  a  friend  in  need. .  I'll 
promise  you  that  not  a  minute  shall  hang  heavily  on  your 
hands  for  a  week  at  least.  He  simply  cannot  get  away 
from  us,  can  he  dad?" 

"I  don't  know,  my  dear.  You  must  make  your  own 
arrangements  with  Mister  Bill;  he  is  the  one  man  who 
pays  no  attention  to  your  old  dad.  He  has  a  will  of 
his  own.  Beware  of  him,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Goddard, 
with  a  kindly  glance  at  the  young  man. 

"Just  watch  me,  dad — watch  the  magical  effect  of  gen- 
tleness upon  a  stubborn  will,"  she  laughed. 

"If  you  have  any  pity  on  an  old  man,  Mister  Bill,  you 
will  help  him  to  a  chance  to  catch  his  breath.  I  am  get- 
ting rather  stiff  in  the  joints  to  keep  up  the  mad  pace  this 
young  woman  sets  for  me ;  she  needs  a  younger  running 
mate  to  keep  pace  with  her — " 

"Leave  Mister  Bill  to  me,  dad,"  she  laughingly  inter- 
posed, placing  a  tiny  finger  on  dad's  lips,  "and  please  go 
on  and  finish  your  business  as  quickly  as  possible  while 
I  wait  outside.  And  mind,"  shaking  a  warning  finger  at 
the  men,  "no  long  stories,"  with  which  parting  admoni- 
tion she  took  her  leave. 

"She  is  all  that  is  left  me,  Mister  Bill ;  she  is  the  only 
ray  of  sunshine  in  my  life,"  said  Mr.  Goddard,  with  fa- 
therly pride  and  gentleness,  when  the  two  men  were  alone. 
"We  have  become  boon  companions ;  we  understand  each 


76  MISTER  BILL 

other  thoroughly.  Somehow  she  seems  to  care  more  for 
her  old  dad  than  for  any  of  the  young  fellows.  Don't  take 
her  long  to  size  a  man  up,  and  when  she  discovers  his 
weakness,  she  has  little  use  for  him.  She  goes  with  me 
on  all  my  trips  to  the  mines,  and  she  knows  more  than 
half  the  experts;  she  is  of  more  real  value  to  me  than 
any  man  I  have.  She  seems  to  know  intuitively  a  good 
many  things  that  the  rest  of  us  have  to  work  out,  and 
some  never  do  seem  to  comprehend.  If  she  were  a  boy, 
sir,  instead  of  the  sunshine  of  her  old  dad's  heart,  he 
would  not  have  to  look  far  for  the  man  to  relieve  him  of 
his  cares  and  responsibilities — not  far,  young  man." 

"Now,  then,  I  guess  we  understand  each  other,  Mis- 
ter Bill,"  said  Mr.  Goddard,  a  few  minutes  later,  rising 
from  his  chair,  "and  I  wish  you  success.  Now  go  out 
and  find  that  young  woman  who  has  designs  upon  you, 
before  she  accuses  her  old  dad  of  holding  you  against 
your  will." 


CHAPTER  IX 
WOMAN'S  INTUITION 

WELL?"  queried  the  young  woman  of  her 
companion,  pulling  up  her  thoroughbred 
with  startling  abruptness,  as  they  emerged 
into  the  open  country  beyond  the  city,  and 
permitting  the  animal  to  indulge  a  more  moderate  pace. 
"Well?"  she  peremptorily  repeated,  her  mood  evidently 
having  undergone  a  decided  change  during  the  brisk  dash 
through  the  town. 

"You  drive  exceedingly  well,  even  if  a  trifle  recklessly, 
if  you  will  accept  so  doubtful  a  compliment." 

"Nonsense !"  she  impatiently  exclaimed.  "I  have 
brought  you  out  here  because  I  wished  to  talk  to  you 
seriously.  You  did  not  accept  dad's  offer?" 

"No." 

"You  did  well.  Had  you  done  so  I  should  have  had 
you  ignominiously  discharged  at  the  very  first  oppor- 
tunity. I  am  a  walking  delegate  of  no  mean  power  in 
this  particular  family,  I  would  have  you  know." 

"Which  power  you  would  use  unscrupulously?" 

"If  need  be,  yes.  You  relieved  me  of  a  disagreeable 
duty,  and  did  not  disappoint  me." 

"I  fear  I  am  more  fortunate  than  worthy." 

"Frankly,  I  think  you  not  less  one  than  the  other.  You 
did  not  disappoint  me  because  I  know  you." 

77 


;8  MISTER  BILL 

"Equally  frankly,  I  believe  I  have  never  seriously  con- 
sidered the  proposition  your  father  made  me." 

"Certainly  not — there  was  no  need.  You  took  the  only 
course  open  to  you.  Had  you  succumbed  to  dad's  flat- 
tering inducements — had  you  even  hesitated — I  should 
have  been  disappointed  in  you." 

"With  the  result?"  he  questioned,  quietly  amused  at 
the  earnestness  of  his  companion. 

"You  would  have  relegated  yourself  to  the  common- 
place ;  simply  exchanged  your  individuality  for  the  pe- 
cuniary advantages  of  greater  or  less  value  which  dad 
had  to  offer.  I  expect — I  could  almost  say  I  demand — 
better  things  of  you,"  she  declared,  almost  defiantly. 

"Demand?" 

"Yes,  demand,"  she  repeated,  with  even  greater  em- 
phasis," in  the  name  of  countless  helpless  creatures  of 
your  sex  and  mine.  Such  men  as  you  are  created 
for  a  purpose;  you  have  a  well  defined  work  to  accom- 
plish ;  a  great  office  to  minister  to  your  fellows,  and  you 
must  not — you  dare  not — fail  in  your  duty." 

"You  would  have  me  right  the  wrongs  of  the  down- 
trodden of  my  kind?" 

"Yes,  so  far  as  lies  in  your  power.  The  influence  of 
one  strong  man  striving  for  the  welfare  of  his  fellows  is 
a  far-reaching  power  for  good — a  moral  strength  that 
prevails  against  greater  numbers — and  he  who  possesses 
it  has  no  right  to  withhold  it." 

"And  this  is  my  power — my  work?" 

"Most  assuredly.  Don't  smile,"  she  protested,  with 
great  seriousness.  "It  is  true;  you  know  it  not  less 
than  I ;  you  need  no  interpreter ;  you  know  it  in  the  very 
'consciousness  of  your  strength — the  very  strength  that 


WOMAN'S  INTUITION  79 

left    you    no    alternative    but    to    refuse    dad's    offer." 

"This  affair  of  the  present?"  she  questioned,  after  an 
interval  of  silence,  regarding  him  intently.  "You  will 
win  in  the  end?" 

"Yes." 

"I  have  not  considered  the  possibility  of  your  failure. 
A  grave  responsibility  rests  upon  you — greater  perhaps, 
than  you  are  aware,  and  you  must  win.  Not  for  your 
sake  or  mine,  but  because  it  is  right  that  you  should." 

"I  believe  that  element,  at  least,  is  arrayed  on  my 
side." 

"It  is  not  right  that  such  shameful  methods,  such  un- 
scrupulous men  should  succeed — they  must  not.  Even 
now  they  are  congratulating  themselves  on  the  success 
of  their  latest  stratagem,  as  they  are  pleased  to  term 
it,  and  impatiently  awaiting  the  time  when  they  may 
take  possession  of  the  Properties  and  despoil  you  and 
your  associates  and  hundreds  of  innocent  stockholders  of 
their  rights." 

"I  am  well  aware  of  their  intentions — they  have  not 
been  at  any  pains  to  conceal  them." 

"Oh,  no !"  she  laughed,  coldly  cynical,  in  answer  to  his 
smile  of  amused  inquiry,  "I  am  kept  particularly  well  in- 
formed. I  believe  that  nothing  of  importance  relative  to 
your  financial  dissolution  has  been  allowed  to  escape 
me." 

"My  obituary  seems  to  have  preceded  me." 

"Which  does  not  seem  to  cause  you  any  great  con- 
cern," she  replied,  regarding  him  curiously. 

"No.  I  read  between  the  lines — the  real  obituary  lies 
there.  Your  father  has  also  been  kept  in  touch  with  the 
progress  of  events,  I  presume  ?" 


8o  MISTER  BILL 

"Oh,  yes !  Dad  has  been  equally  well  informed,  but 
for  some  reason  not  quite  clear  to  me  he  seems  to  de- 
rive considerable  quiet  amusement  from  the  general  sit- 
uation. Have  you  been  able  to  discover  any  considerable 
vein  of  humor  in  the  mass  of  complexities  in  which  you 
are  involved?"  she  demanded,  giving  him  a  searching 
glance. 

"No.  Yet  it  may  exist.  Your  father  is  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  discernment." 

"So  it  would  seem,"  she  said,  with  considerable  spirit, 
apparently  not  entirely  satisfied  with  his  reply.  "Dad 
says  that  those  with  whom  you  have  had  to  deal  up  to  the 
present  time  are  only  the  cat's-paw,  and  when  you  un- 
cover the  real  enemy  you  will  discover  some  pretty  big 
guns — too  big  to  be  openly  identified  with  the  dirty  work 
they  have  been  engaged  in." 

"Yes,  without  a  doubt  the  real  power  is  vested  in  a 
coterie  of  New  York  financiers  who,  for  obvious  reasons, 
could  not  afford  to  lend  their  names  to  such  disreputable 
methods  as  have  been  employed,  even  though  they  were 
entirely  willing  to  share  the  spoils.  Who  they  are,  I  have 
no  means  of  knowing  at  this  distance,  as  they  have  kept 
well  under  cover." 

"What  do  you  intend  to  do — how  do  you  expect  to 
reach  them?"  she  inquired,  with  considerable  interest. 

"I  shall  drive  them  into  the  open  and  compel  them  to 
fight  under  their  true  colors — man  to  man — and  then — " 

"And  then?"  she  repeated,  as  he  paused  a  moment. 

"Then  I  hope  I  shall  not  disappoint  you,"  he  said, 
more  seriously  than  he  had  yet  spoken. 

"You  will  not  disappoint  me  even  were  you  to  fail  in 
your  first  attempt "  she  quietly  replied.  "Failure  does 


WOMAN'S  INTUITION  81 

not  mean  defeat  to  you ;  it  only  means  another  and  a 
more  determined  effort  to  accomplish  the  task  you  have 
set  for  yourself — a  greater  satisfaction  in  your  ultimate 
triumph." 

"Beware  lest  your  faith  prove  my  undoing,"  he  admon- 
ished. 

"I  would  have  you  win  no  hollow  victory,"  she  pro- 
tested. "I  would  have  you  fight  to  win.  I  would  have 
your  success  an  unqualified  triumph  over  the  corrupt  and 
villainous  practices  of  your  opponents,  that  they  and  all 
the  world  might  know  that  a  man  may  be  true  to  him- 
self and  still  be  accounted  a  successful  man.  Such  a  vic- 
tory will  be  a  blessing  to  all  mankind — a  great  moral 
triumph  that  only  men  like  you  can  win." 

"I  believe  that  is  what  makes  the  struggle  really  in- 
teresting— all  that  makes  it  really  worth  while,"  he  was 
forced  to  admit. 

"I  wanted  you  to  know  that  I  understand — that  I  ap- 
prove. Dad  understands,  but  only  in  part.  He  thinks 
that  you  are  ambitious  to  accomplish  certain  results  in 
your  own  way,  and  does  not  look  beyond  the  surface. 
Others  will  understand  you  even  less.  But  you  do  not 
seek  the  applause  of  your  fellows,  and  when  you  have 
satisfied  yourself,  you  will  have  won  a  greater  approval 
than  any  which  the  world  has  to  offer." 

"I  have  already  received  the  first  fruits  of  victory,  in 
your  confidence  and  approval — " 

"And  now,"  she  laughed,  cutting  short  his  reply,  "I 
shall  cease  probing  into  the  privacy  of  your  inner  con- 
sciousness and  take  you  home  to  luncheon  and  convince 
dad  that  I  am  not  in  a  base  conspiracy  with  the  enemy 
to  make  way  with  you.  I  shall  then  consider  myself  re- 


82  MISTER  BILL 

lieved  of  all  responsibility  and  permit  you  to  go  your 
way." 

That  night  he  sent  a  brief  but  expressive  message  to 
his  comrades  at  the  mines,  which  read  as  follows: 

"Stand  pat — ammunition  all  right.  Bill." 


CHAPTER  X 
WHEN  MEN  ARE  TEMPTED 

IN  a  quiet  corner  of  the  cafe  of  an  uptown  hotel,  in  the 
great  metropolis,  two  men  were  seated  at  a  table.  The 
elder  man  had  little  to  say,  although  it  was  apparent 
that  his  occasional  brief  remarks  were  directing  the 
trend  of  the  conversation.  His  companion,  a  young  man 
in  the  early  twenties,  was  laboring  under  a  great  stress 
of  mental  emotion,  and  making  but  a  feeble  effort  to  par- 
take of  the  food  set  before  him. 

"You  don't  know  me,  sir!"  he  suddenly  cried,  staring 
wildly  and  uncertainly  at  the  other.  "I  have  betrayed 
a  trust!  I — I  am  a — thief!  What's  that?  Who  dares 
say  Jack  Winston  is  a  thief?  Ah,  yes,  it  is  true — terribly 
true !  I  no  longer  know  the  sound  of  my  own  voice — my 
brain  is  numb.  And  you — you,  sir,  are  not  surprised?" 

"No." 

"I  knew  it !  And  why  not,  when  one  has  only  to  look 
on  my  face  and  see  every  letter  of  the  word  burned  into 
my  very  flesh." 

"Your  fevered  brain  is  playing  you  strange  pranks," 
said  the  elder  man,  with  kindly  compassion. 

"Why  do  you  permit  me  to  remain  here  and  contami- 
nate the  very  air  you  breathe  ?"  he  desperately  demanded. 
"Why  don't  you  order  me  kicked  into  the  street — or  shall 
I  take  myself  off,  and  save  you  the  trouble?" 

83 


84  MISTER  BILL 

"No.  You  are  going  to  tell  me  the  cause  of  your  dis- 
tress— I  brought  you  here  for  that  purpose." 

"But  you — you,  sir,  are  a  stranger  to  me!"  cried  the 
youth,  incredulously.  "You  cannot  possibly  be  inter- 
ested in  me  or  my  troubles.  Why  am  I  here?  What 
have  I  said?  What  am  I  doing?"  he  cried,  despairingly. 
"Oh,  it  is  all  a  hideous  nightmare!  Will  the  awaken- 
ing never  come?" 

"The  awakening  has  already  come  to  you,  my  boy ;  it 
is  oblivion  you  sadly  need.  Your  mental  machinery  is 
racing  beyond  your  control — you  have  lost  your  balance, 
and  must  unburden  your  overwrought  mind  to  restore 
the  equilibrium.  Now,  then,"  he  said,  his  kindly  voice 
vibrating  the  assurance  of  his  sincerity,  "what  is  it  all 
about?" 

"Ah,  sir,  it  is  the  same  old  story,"  said  the  poor  fel- 
low, with  hesitating  and  painful  reluctance,  "you  can 
read  it  in  the  paper  by  your  side;  it  was  the  same  yes- 
terday— it  will  be  the  same  to-morrow.  I  thought  I  could 
make  money  quickly.  Men  all  about  me  made  hundreds 
and  thousands  in  a  day — an  hour — why  not  I?  Oh!  it 
makes  me  sick  at  heart  to  tell  this  same  old  story  you 
know  so  well.  I  helped  them  make  their  money — handled 
it  for  them — was  enveloped  in  the  very  atmosphere  of 
excitement  and  success.  I  breathed  it,  and  became  intox- 
icated. Yes,  I  would  take  a  hand  in  the  game — just  a 
small  hand.  I  would  be  satisfied  with  a  little  where  oth- 
ers reached  out  for  thousands.  For  a  few  days  all  went 
well.  I  could  see  visions  of  the  happy  home  I  had  planned 
and  dreamed  of  growing  nearer  and  brighter.  A  little 
more  risk,  and  a  short  cut  across  the  years  of  monot- 
onous toil  before  me — nothing  venture,  nothing  have. 


WHEN  MEN  ARE  TEMPTED  85 

Ah,  sir !  those  words  that  have  stilled  for  the  moment  the 
small  protesting  voice  within.  Only  a  thousand — but 
one  of  the  many  thousands  lying  idle,  and  no  harm  to  use 
for  a  day  or  two.  The  market  took  a  sudden  turn,  and 
the  great  wave  that  had  been  carrying  all  before  it  to  suc- 
cess and  riches,  suddenly  faltered,  turned,  and  began 
to  recede.  But  it  would  return  immediately — surely, 
surely,  it  must  come  back.  Another  thousand  to  protect 
the  first — another,  to  save  the  two.  You,  sir,  know  the 
rest.  The  tide  never  turned,  and  before  I  could  release 
myself  from  its  grasp  four  thousand  dollars  had  been 
swept  away.  Not  a  large  sum,  to  be  sure,  but  not  a 
penny  of  it  was  mine,  and  it  might  as  well  be  ten  times 
the  amount — I  am  powerless  to  make  it  good.  The  loss 
may  be  discovered  at  any  moment,  and  I — I — but  you 
must  be  weary  of  me  and  my  wretched  story." 

"Novelty  is  rarely  a  conspicuous  feature  of  wretch- 
edness. Who  suffers  with  you?" 

"Oh,  sir!  if  I  alone  could  suffer  the  consequences  of 
my  folly.  The  thought  that  beats  on  my  brain  with  every 
heart  throb  and  vibrates  through  my  whole  being,  is  the 
shame  and  anguish  that  I  have  brought  upon  those  dear 
to  me.  In  spite  of  my  boasted  strength  and  the  example 
so  often  before  me ;  in  spite  of  the  duty  I  owed  my  dear 
old  mother,  and  her  faithful  teachings — God  knows  she 
taught  me  well  and  true,  and  her  heart  would  break 
if  she  knew  that  I  had  even  been  tempted ;  and  my  sister, 
who  believes  the  heavens  would  fall  before  her  brother 
could  forget  his  honor;  and  one — one  to  whom  I  owe 
more  than  life  itself,  and  who  would  rather  see  me  dead 
than  dishonored ;  yet,  in  spite  of  all  I  am  no  better  than 
the  fellow  of  the  streets  who  snatches  a  purse  and  sneaks 


86  MISTER  BILL 

away.  To-night  I  had  been  haunting  the  docks,  wander- 
ing into  low  saloons,  sailors'  boarding-houses,  and  the 
dirty  tenement  districts  on  the  water  front.  The  places 
I  loathe  seemed  to  possess  a  strange  fascination  for  me. 
I  envied  the  drunken  sailors ;  laughed  at  their  brawls  and 
curses,  and  cursed  back  at  them.  Why  I  was  permitted  to 
leave  their  vile  haunts  alive  is  more  than  I  can  under- 
stand. It  was  the  irony  of  fate,  for  I  should  have  wel- 
comed a  blow  to  quiet  my  throbbing  brain,  or  a  knife 
thrust  to  still  my  aching  heart ;  but  even  that  was  denied 
me.  I  envied  the  little  ragged  urchins  of  the  street,  and 
would  gladly  have  exchanged  places  with  them.  Even  the 
meanest  and  slimiest  things  that  crawled  and  slunk  into 
their  holes  seemed  better  than  I ;  they  were  at  least  true 
to  their  natures,  while  I  had  forfeited  the  right  to  mine, 
and  all  that  made  life  worth  the  living.  I  had  twice 
walked  down  the  docks  and  looked  into  the  black  waters, 
but  each  time  I  saw  three  faces  looking  up  at  me  out  of 
the  darkness  below,  and  heard  the  same  accusing  voice 
calling  me  coward — coward — and  I  slowly  retraced  my 
steps.  I  think  I  was  gradually  losing  my  mind.  The 
terrible  throbbing  in  my  head  seemed  to  create  strange 
fancies.  Then  I  ran  against  you,  for  I  took  small  heed  of 
my  steps.  Your  voice  aroused  me  from  my  trance  or 
stupor.  That  you  were  a  detective  was  my  first  intelli- 
gible thought,  and  I  think  I  felt  rather  a  relief ;  but  a  sec- 
ond glance,  your  grip,  and  the  people  coming  from  the 
ferry,  told  me  that  you  were  a  traveler.  I  was  starting 
on  with  a  mumbled  apology  for  running  you  down,  when 
you  took  me  by  the  arm,  and  said  that  I  seemed  rather 
out  of  sorts  and  had  better  ride  up  town  with  you.  I 
hesitated  an  instant,  and  then  stepped  into  your  cab  and 


WHEN  MEN  ARE  TEMPTED  87 

— well,  here  I  am,  without  any  volition  of  my  own,  and 
simply  doing  your  bidding.  You  have  been  good  to  me, 
sir ;  you  have  finished  your  dinner  and  I — I  must  be  go- 
ing. Good  night,  sir." 

********* 

Standing  before  the  long  glass  doors  of  a  brilliantly- 
lighted  living  room,  a  young  miss  gazed  steadfastly  out 
into  the  night.  Her  left  hand,  with  forefinger  inserted 
in  a  book,  rested  on  her  hip,  while  the  fingers  of  her 
right  hand  toyed  impatiently  with  the  long  beaded  chain 
hanging  about  her  neck.  Suddenly  starting  from  her  rev- 
erie, she  glanced  at  a  clock  on  the  mantel  industriously 
ticking  the  minutes  away,  and  compared  the  hour  with 
the  little  timepiece  nestling  in  her  belt.  Evidently  little 
satisfaction  was  derived  from  the  comparison,  as  she 
glanced  impatiently  at  the  other  occupants  of  the  room, 
heaved  a  very  large  sigh  for  so  little  a  girl,  and  again 
directed  her  attention  outwards. 

"No  sign  of  them  yet,  my  dear  ?"  inquired  the  mother, 
looking  up  from  her  sewing.  "They  will  soon  be  here, 
I  am  sure,"  she  added,  by  way  of  encouragement  to  the 
impatient  watcher. 

"Oh,  dear!  Who  first  discovered  that  patience  was  a 
virtue — a  man  I'll  wager,"  petulantly  retorted  the  young 
miss. 

"At  all  events,  it  is  a  virtue,  my  dear,"  said  the  mother, 
with  gentle  reproval. 

"I  have  simply  been  counting  the  minutes  since  tea, 
and  the  hands  just  seem  to  creep  around  the  face  of  that 
hateful  little  clock — and  it's  such  a  small  face,  too,"  she 
protested,  contemplating  the  offending  timepiece  as  if 
that  particular  dial  might  speed  the  minutes  faster  were 


88  MISTER  BILL 

it  better  disposed.  "And  besides,  they  may  not  come 
after  all — men  are  so  very  uncertain." 

"Why,  Edith,  has  your  very  brief  experience  with  the 
world  made  you  a  cynic?"  inquired  the  last  occupant  of 
the  room,  glancing  up  from  her  work  with  a  smile  of 
amused  surprise. 

"I  must  say  I  have  my  doubts  sometimes,  Maude. 
Somehow  a  girl  seems  forever  going  the  opposite  way  to 
the  rest  of  the  world — it's  positively  dizzying." 

"The  world  goes  its  way  regardless  of  fine  distinctions 
and  womanly  ideals,  my  dear,"  said  Maude,  a  little  more 
seriously,"  and  when  one  of  our  ideals  is  shattered,  we 
immediately  set  up  another — it  is  a  woman's  preroga- 
tive." 

"I  am  beginning  to  think  that  girls'  ideals  are  awfully 
soap-bubbly  things  anyway.  They  just  grow  and  grow 
until  they  seem  to  radiate  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow, 
and  when  you  think  them  quite  perfect — zip !  they  burst 
before  your  very  eyes.  But  they  are  rather  nice  while 
they  last,"  she  admitted,  with  evident  reluctance. 

"Have  some  of  your  fine  bubbles  burst,  dear?"  in- 
quired Maude,  with  kindly  interest. 

"Indeed  they  have !"  spiritedly  replied  the  young  miss, 
"and  now  I  just  naturally  expect  the — zip !  I  put  all  my 
bubbles  into  my  diary — a  record  of  men,  if  you  please — 
their  deeds  and  misdeeds,"  she  explained  quite  seriously. 

"You  have  reduced  mankind  to  a  system  of  ledger  foot- 
ings, and  can  tell  the  face  value  of  the  individual  at 
sight?"  inquired  Maude. 

"Indeed  I  can!  Some  boys — and  men,  too — seem  to 
think  they  are  making  a  great  impression  on  a  girl  by 
promising  all  sorts  of  things ;  a  sailing  party,  a  drive,  a 


WHEN  MEN  ARE  TEMPTED  89 

book,  a  box  of  candy,  or  a  bunch  of  violets,  and  the 
thought  never  seems  to  occur  to  them  that  the  girl  may 
be  silly  enough  to  take  them  seriously.  But  you  know 
yourself,  Maude  Spencer,  that  a  girl  never  forgets.  She 
just  waits  and  waits,  until  each  little  violet  becomes  as 
large  as  a  chrysanthemum,  and  when  they  don't  come, 
and  still  don't  come,  the}  begin  to  grow  smaller  and 
smaller  until  they  get  to  be  mighty  small,  but  not  nearly 
so  small  as  the  man  in  her  estimation.  So  now  when  a 
man  or  a  boy  fails  to  keep  his  promise,  away  he  goes  on 
to  the  black-list,  and  I  don't  recognize  him — cut  him  dead 
— and  he  does  not  get  a  second  chance  to  fool  Edith 
Winston — not  if  she  knows  it." 

"You  are  right,  my  dear,"  laughed  Maude,  "a  girl  does 
remember.  Perhaps  if  she  remembered  and  believed  less 
she  might  be  saved  many  disappointments,"  she  added, 
more  soberly. 

"My  dear,"  gently  interposed  the  mother,  "you  must  re- 
member that  you  have  a  brother,  and  I  am  sure  you 
would  not  wish  to  be  disloyal  to  him." 

"Dear  old  Jack,  of  course  not!  but  he  is  a  man,  and 
all  men  leave  a  great  deal  to  be  desired  according  to  my 
ideas,"  replied  the  young  philosopher,  with  a  sly  glance 
at  Maude. 

"Where  did  the  child  get  such  ideas  ?"  exclaimed  Mrs, 
Winston,  quite  startled  at  this  display  of  worldly  wis- 
dom. "I  am  sure,  my  dear,  I  have  ever  led  you  to  believe 
that  many  men  are  good  and  noble,  and  to  be  the  wife  of 
such  a  man  is  as  great  a  happiness  as  you  are  destined 
to  know." 

"Yes,  mama,  you  have.  Most  girls  are  led  to  believe  that 
men  are  very  superior  creatures,  and  to  secure  one  for 


90  MISTER  BILL 

a  husband,  the  great  desideratum — the  grand  finale  of  our 
lives,"  a  demure  bow  and  sweeping  movement  of  the  arm 
lending  additional  emphasis  to  the  grandeur  of  the  pos- 
sibilities. "We  must  do  this,  because  men  like  that  sort 
of  thing ;  we  must  not  do  that,  because  their  lordships 
might  object;  we  must  consider  their  likes  and  dislikes, 
and  make  their  will  our  law ;  in  short,  cease  to  exist 
only  as  our  lives  may  bestow  some  greater  benefaction 
upon  our  lords  and  masters.  And  when  we  say  our  pray- 
ers, we  know  not  whether  to  ask  first  for  our  daily  bread 
or — a  husband." 

"Edith,  this  is  shameful!" 

"Indeed  it  is,  mama,"  replied  this  sad  minx,  knowing 
full  well  that  she  was  misinterpreting  the  intent  of  her 
mother's  protest,  "and  the  result  is,"  she  continued,  with 
profound  assurance,  "the  men  are  placed  on  a  pedestal 
and  girls  are  graciously  permitted  to  gather  around  and 
burn  incense  at  the  masculine  shrine." 

"I  must  confess  to  some  enlightenment  on  this  partic- 
ular subject,  my  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Winston,  regarding  her 
daughter  with  scant  approval. 

"It  is  quite  true,  mama,  and  when  the  heads  of  the 
poor  men  have  been  sufficiently  turned  with  the  sense 
of  their  very  great  importance  down  they  drop  one  after 
another  and  are  finally  carried  away  in  triumph  to  the 

tune  of "  and  here  the  young  miss  seated  herself  at  the 

piano  and  proceeded  to  bring  forth,  rather  more  energet- 
ically than  artistically,  the  strains  of  a  familiar  wedding 
march. 

"That  will  do,  Edith!"  peremptorily  interposed  Mrs. 
Winston,  abruptly  terminating  this  sacrilegious  demon- 
stration. "Your  mother  requires  time  to  reflect  upon  the 


WHEN  MEN  ARE  TEMPTED  91 

very  superior  knowledge  possessed  by  her  daughter,"  and 
addressing  Maude  for  the  benefit  of  the  arch  conspirator, 
who  was  silenced,  if  not  subdued,  said:  "It  is  extremely 
embarrassing,  not  to  say  humiliating,  to  suddenly  discover 
that  one  is  not  keeping  pace  with  one's  daughter  in  world- 
ly matters.  Verily  the  blind  lead  the  blind." 

Not  many  minutes  elapsed,  however,  before  the 
thoughts  of  the  young  miss  again  found  audible  expres- 
sion. "Just  the  same,  I  don't  think  that  Jack  has  behaved 
very  well.  He  has  not  been  home  for  three  weeks  and  I 
think  he  might  have  come  sooner." 

"You  must  remember,  my  dear,  that  your  brother  is  now 
a  man  with  duties  and  responsibilities  which  demand  his 
first  consideration.  Business  is  a  severe  taskmaster,  and 
I  am  sure  he  is  coming  home  at  the  very  first  opportunity 
his  duties  permit.  Besides,"  her  eyes  resting  tenderly 
upon  Maude,  "we  know  the  very  great  incentive  he  now 
has  to  put  forth  his  very  best  efforts — the  highest  and 
noblest  in  a  man's  life — to  make  a  home  for  the  woman 
he  loves,  and  win  an  honorable  place  among  men  that 
she  may  be  proud  of  her  husband.  And  when  Jack  is 
compelled  to  be  away  from  those  he  loves  to  accomplish 
all  this,  we  must  help  him  to  be  brave,  and  not  add  our 
little  worries  to  his.  I  am  sure  he  will  succeed,  and  you, 
my  dear,  are  as  anxious  to  assist  him,  and  will  be  as 
proud  of  his  success  as  any  of  us." 

"Of  course  I  am,  and  of  course  I  will !"  exclaimed  true 
blue  little  sister.  "Jack  is  just  the  dearest  and  best  broth- 
er in  the  whole  world  and  Maude  is  the  luckiest  girl  to 
get  him,  she  had  better  know,  and  I  am  jealous — very 
jealous  indeed."  And  to  show  how  very  terribly  the 
green-eyed  monster  possessed  her  dear  little  self,  she 


92  MISTER  BILL 

leaned  over  the  back  of  Maude's  chair,  and  laying  her 
fresh  young  face  against  the  conscious  flushes  of  Jack's 
affianced  wife,  informed  her  that  she  would  heaps  rather 
have  her  for  a  sister  than  any  girl  she  ever  knew,  which 
declaration  of  peace  and  good  will  was  duly  ratified  and 
sealed  according  to  prescribed  feminine  form. 

"Yes,"  gasped  Maude,  when  she  had  been  released 
from  the  suffocating  embrace  of  the  young  impulsive,  "I 
know  that  I  am  a  very  lucky  girl,  for  there  is  not  a 
truer  or  a  better  man  in  the  world  than  Jack.  He  is  work- 
ing so  hard  to  make  a  home  and  position  in  the  world,  I 
sometimes  feel  that  I  am  not  worthy  of  such  untiring  and 
unselfish  devotion.  He  tells  me  his  plans  and  his  ambi- 
tions— Oh,  they  are  so  glowing ! — and  he  is  so  happy  and 
light-hearted.  And  then  when  everything  seems  to 
go  wrong,  and  he  becomes  just  a  little  discouraged,  I  do 
so  long  for  the  time  when  I  can  help  him  to  bear  his  dis- 
appointments." 

And  the  mother's  voice  was  tender,  and  her  eyes  were 
dim,  as  she  folded  the  younger  woman  in  her  arms,  and 
declared  that  her  boy  had  chosen  well — that  she  would 
not  have  had  it  otherwise  had  the  choice  been  with  her. 
And  then  Maude  pressed  a  kiss  upon  the  dear  old  lips  of 
Jack's  mother,  and  told  her  how  happy  she  was ;  how  she 
had  feared  at  times — just  the  tiniest  bit,  you  know — that 
his  mother  might  not  approve;  that  she  might  have 
other  hopes  and  plans  for  her  boy,  and  she  was  almost 
afraid  to  say  yes,  when  Jack  had  asked  her  to  be  his  wife. 
Thereupon  the  mother  protested  with  great  seriousness, 
that  her  fondest  hopes  had  been  that  her  boy  would 
choose  a  good  and  true  woman  for  his  helpmate  regard- 
less of  wealth  and  station,  as  she  did  not  believe  that  riches 


WHEN  MEN  ARE  TEMPTED  93 

or  position  made  happiness.  That  the  best  riches  a  young 
couple  could  possess  were  love  and  confidence  in  each 
other,  and  with  good  health  they  would  soon  gather 
worldly  goods  and  find  happiness  in  so  doing ;  for  in  her 
poor  opinion,  real  happiness  was  to  be  found,  not  alone  in 
having  achieved  a  desired  position,  but  in  the  effort  of 
achieving — at  least  that  had  been  the  experience  of  Jack's 
father  and  mother. 

"I  have  done  my  duty  by  my  boy  as  I  have  seen  it,  and 
when  he  was  left  without  a  father's  care  and  guidance,  I 
felt  that  a  greater  responsibility  rested  upon  me.  I  have 
taught  him  to  be  truthful  and  honest,  and  to  hold  himself 
above  the  petty  meannesses  of  smaller  natures ;  I  have 
impressed  upon  him  the  respect  and  consideration  due  our 
sex.  I  have  tried  to  mould  his  character  so  that  it  might 
be  invulnerable  to  the  shafts  of  temptation  for  which  his 
youth  and  inexperience  would  be  a  shining  mark.  Yet, 
when  he  went  out  into  the  world,  and  into  the  great  city, 
I  feared  for  his  strength,  feared  lest  there  might  be  some 
weak  spot  that  my  ignorance  of  the  world  had  not  prop- 
erly protected,  and  there  is  never  a  night  but  I  pray  that 
God  may  give  him  strength  to  resist  temptation,  and  to 
remain  good  and  unsullied  from  the  contact  with  his  fel- 
lows. I  felt  that  an  added  strength  and  a  greater  incen- 
tive to  be  true  to  himself  had  been  given  him,  and  that 
another  class  of  temptation  had  been  removed  from  his 
path,  when  you  became  a  part  of  his  life,  his  hopes,  and 
his  ambitions,  my  dear.  No  one  knows  the  feelings  of  a 
mother — none  but  a  mother  can  know — that  waking  or 
sleeping  but  one  image  is  in  her  thoughts,  and  her  whole 
life  radiates  around  that  one  dear  form.  But  I  have  done 
my  best,  my  dear,  and  I  cannot  think  that  after  all  my 


94  MISTER  BILL 

care  and  teachings — no,  I  will  not  believe — that  my  boy 
can  so  far  forget  the  duty  he  owes  himself,  his  mother,  his 
sister,  and  now  his  affianced  wife,  as  to  be  untrue  to  his 
manhood.  But  if  that  should  ever  happen,  it  will  not  be 
because  he  has  not  been  forewarned  and  forearmed,  but 
because,  after  all,  he  is  only  my  boy,  and  but  a  man  who 
overestimated  his  strength,  only  to  find  himself  weak,  and 
the  current  strong."  And  here  the  good  woman  suddenly 
recalled  that  she  was  dwelling  too  long  and  too  gloomily 
upon  the  subject  nearest  her  heart,  and,  smiling  upon  her 
interested  listener,  declared  that  she  was  borrowing  need- 
less trouble,  for  did  they  not  know  that  their  Jack  would 
never  fail  them !  Ah,  no — her  king  could  do  no  wrong ! 

It  was  ever  so — may  it  ever  be.  This  gentle  and 
kindly  soul  with  whitening  locks  and  wrinkled  brow, 
looking  back  over  years  weighing  heavily  against  the 
allotted  span ;  this  fresh  young  soul,  buoyant  and  hopeful 
of  the  life  to  come — the  dawning  light  and  the  setting 
sun. 

From  cradle  to  grave — in  sickness  and  in  health— in 
adversity  and  in  prosperity — in  joy  and  in  sorrow — the 
gentle  spirit  of  woman  watches  over  the  destiny  of  man, 
asking  no  greater  boon  than  to  applaud  his  successes, 
laugh  when  he  is  gay,  cheer  him  in  misfortune,  or  cool 
his  fevered  brow.  Ah!  gentle  soul,  you  are  the  better 
half  of  man — the  inspiration  of  his  better  deeds — the 
incentive  to  greater  and  higher  aspirations ;  and  even  the 
crowns  of  kings  or  laurel  wreaths  of  heroes  shed  no 
brighter  lustre  than  the  love  with  which  you  crown  your 
king. 


CHAPTER  XI 
THOSE  WHO  WATCH  AND  WAIT 

I  AM  very  much  interested  in  Mr.  Waldron,"  de- 
clared the  little  maid,  who  had  maintained  a  discreet 
silence  during  this  very  serious  conversation,  but  not 
for  an  instant  relinquishing  her  watchfulness. 

"Really?  And  how  long  has  this  serious  state  of  af- 
fairs existed?"  inquired  Maude. 

"Ever  since  Jack  began  to  write  about  him.  You  are 
interested  in  Jack,  I  may  be  interested  in  Mr.  Waldron, 
may  I  not?" 

"To  be  sure,  my  dear,"  laughed  Maude.  "We  are  all 
very  much  interested  in  Mr.  Waldron — we  have  quite 
given  him  a  place  in  the  family  circle.  You  will  share 
him  with  us  just  the  littlest  mite,  will  you  not?" 

"Well,  anyway,  I  am  very  curious  and — impatient,"  she 
truthfully  added. 

"Perhaps,  after  all,  you  may  be  disappointed — " 

"Subject  to  acceptance  only  on  approval — returnable  if 
not  entirely  satisfactory,"  interposed  the  young  miss. 

"I  hope  Jack  is  not  mistaken  in  the  man,"  said  Mrs. 
Winston,  with  a  mother's  concern  for  the  associates  of 
her  boy.  "Jack  is  sometimes  over  enthusiastic  concern- 
ing his  friends,  and  an  older  man  generally  possesses 
considerable  influence  over  a  younger  man  for  good  or 
ill." 

95 


96  MISTER  BILL 

"I  hope  he  does  not  smoke  cigarettes,  and  has  a  mus- 
tache, and  is  big  and  strong,  and  is  not  a — bubble,"  inter- 
jected the  irrepressible. 

"Why,  Edith!  Why  do  you  say  such  things?"  remon- 
strated her  mother. 

"Well,  mama,  I  just  can't  stand  this  suspense  any 
longer — I  just  have  to  say  things !" 

For  a  moment  her  impatience  gave  way  to  curiosity, 
and  she  wondered  where  Jack  had  met  this  new  friend, 
and  why  he  was  bringing  a  comparative  stranger  down 
to  their  quiet  country  home.  "Because,"  she  explained, 
"Jack  says  he  is  from  the  West — plains  and  mountains 
and  that  sort  of  thing — and  at  best  he  must  be  a  species 
of  cowboy — a  diamond  in  the  rough,  perhaps,"  as  her 
brother  was  wont  to  designate  some  of  his  friends.  On 
second  thought,  such  a  possibility  was  regarded  with 
rather  more  favor.  He  could  surely  tell  her  no  end  of 
stories — very  real  stories — but  her  chatter  was  brought  to 
a  sudden  termination,  and  with  a  cry  of  "Here  they  are !" 
she  dashed  out  into  the  darkness,  fortunately  for  her 
ladyship,  taking  the  precaution  of  opening  the  glass  doors 
before  passing  through.  Presently  she  came  trooping 
back,  one  arm  around  her  brother,  the  other  carrying  his 
grip,  his  hat  perched  on  the  back  of  her  own  little  head, 
laughing  and  talking  in  the  same  breath — she  had  got  her 
Jack. 

The  young  man  greeted  his  mother  and  sweetheart  as 
became  a  dutiful  son  and  devoted  lover,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  introduce  the  stranger,  who  had  followed  leis- 
urely after.  He  would  relieve  the  introduction  of  all 
formality — would  Jack — and  declared  his  mother  to  be 
the  dearest  and  best  of  mothers ;  and  Maude,  the  sweetest 


THOSE  WHO  WATCH  AND  WAIT          97 

of  sweethearts ;  and  catching  Edith  in  his  arms,  gave  her 
a  resounding  smack,  and  assured  the  stranger  that  she 
was  the  darlingest  sister  a  fellow  ever  had,  which  seemed 
not  to  surprise  or  embarrass  that  young  lady  in  the  least. 

Mrs.  Winston  greeted  the  stranger  with  cordial  hand- 
clasp and  assurance  of  welcome,  which  he  modestly  ac- 
knowledged. With  blushes  suffusing  her  fair  face,  and  a 
mien  not  entirely  free  from  embarrassment — maidenly 
modesty  not  being  in  full  accord  with  Jack's  extravagant 
informality — Maude  graciously  added  her  welcome.  "You 
must  pardon  Jack's  enthusiasm,"  she  said,  with  a  smile 
reflecting  the  cordiality  of  her  greeting,  "and  believe  that 
the  welcome  of  his  little  home  circle  is  quite  as  sincere 
as  are  his  superlatives." 

Warm  welcome  indeed,  for  Jack  was  nothing  if  not 
sincere  in  his  expressions  of  love  for  those  near  and  dear 
to  him.  Still  retaining  the  little  hand  in  his  strong 
muscular  grasp,  and  looking  down  into  eyes  reflecting 
the  sincerity  of  the  words  just  uttered,  "Superlatives  give 
adequate  expression  only,  upon  occasion — Jack  chooses 
well,"  he  said.  It  was  not  flattery  nor  form  of  speech. 
Each  knew  that  the  other  was  merely  honest ;  each  recog- 
nized in  the  other  the  innate  qualities  of  manhood  and 
womanhood  speaking  as  plainly  one  to  the  other  as  the 
simple  words  of  greeting.  Lucky  fellow  to  call  this  man 
friend — twice  lucky  to  win  this  woman's  love. 

The  youngest  member  had  withdrawn  somewhat  apart 
from  the  group,  where  she  calmly  contemplated  the  for- 
malities of  greeting,  and  the  stranger  in  particular.  To 
be  sure,  the  first  step  was  to  look  the  guest  over  care- 
fully and  discover  his  possibilities ;  or,  if  he  were  quite 
impossible,  why,  very  well,  this  young  woman  would 


98  MISTER  BILL 

promptly  wash  her  small  hands  of  all  responsibility  of 
whatsoever  kind  or  character.  Jack  brought  him  down 
and  Jack  may  entertain  him — so  there !  The  first  impres- 
sion seemed  not  entirely  favorable  to  the  stranger,  all 
unconscious  of  the  ordeal  through  which  he  was  passing, 
and  a  look  of  disappointment  might  have  been  discerned 
on  the  young  face.  He  was  not  a  cow-boy,  or  even  dis- 
tantly related  to  one — that  was  easily  apparent;  but  just 
a  plain  every-day  man.  No  novelty  in  that — pooh !  And 
yet,  was  she  quite  sure?  The  little  miss  was  a  keen 
observer,  and  something  about  the  man  who  had  so  un- 
assumingly, yet  with  a  certain  dignity  and  self-possession 
taken  his  place  in  the  little  family  circle,  told  her  that  this 
was  a  type  of  man  new  to  her,  and  after  all,  even  if  he 
were  not  a  wild  and  woolly  Westerner,  he  might  possess 
possibilities.  Perhaps  he  could  do  things — Oh,  very 
great  things !  She  simply  adored  a  strong  man  who  was 
master  of  himself  and  of  men — did  this  little  woman — in 
which  respect  she  was  one  with  the  great  feminine  heart. 

Jack  was  quick  to  note  the  very  profound  attention 
with  which  his  sister  regarded  the  stranger,  and  rightly 
surmised  the  general  trend  of  her  thoughts.  "Well,  Sis, 
I  am  sure  that  Mr.  Waldron  would  be  very  much  em- 
barrassed were  he  aware  of  the  very  particular  attention 
being  paid  him  by  a  certain  young  lady,"  he  told  her, 
rudely  interrupting  very  serious  meditations. 

If  brother  had  thought  to  embarrass  little  sister,  the 
tables  were  likely  to  be  well  turned  upon  him.  With- 
out the  slightest  hestitation  or  suggestion  of  confusion — 
rather  apologetically,  if  you  please — she  replied,  "Well,  I 
believe  I  was  just  a  little  disappointed  at  first,  because  I 
expected  to  meet  a  real  and  truly  Westerner.  But  on 


THOSE  WHO  WATCH  AND  WAIT          99 

the  whole  I  rather  prefer  Mr.  Waldron  just  as  he  is,  and 
I  hope  we  shall  be  very  good  friends."  And  suiting  her 
action  to  her  words,  she  proceeded  to  take  the  initiative, 
perhaps  as  a  gentle  guarantee  of  good  faith,  and  with  a 
mien  of  quiet  self-possession,  advanced  to  where  that 
gentleman  was  sitting,  and  explained  that  she  would 
shake  hands  again,  if  he  pleased,  as  it  appeared  there 
had  been  a  misunderstanding.  And  that  gentleman, 
nothing  loath,  rose  very  soberly,  took  the  little  hand  in 
his,  and  expressed  great  satisfaction  on  his  part. 

The  gentlemen  properly  welcomed,  the  young  ladies 
suddenly  bethought  themselves  of  a  promise  to  look  in 
at  "a  little  informal,"  near  by,  and  insisting  that  they 
did  not  require  escort,  nor  need  the  gentlemen  call  for 
them,  as  they  should  return  with  Mrs.  Davidge,  "Who, 
by  the  way,  Jack,  is  paying  us  a  visit,"  explained  sister, 
and  promising  not  to  be  long,  "Just  to  look  in,"  from 
Maude,  disappeared  with  swish  of  skirts  and  laughing 
voices.  Mrs.  Winston  also  retired  almost  immediately, 
leaving  the  men  temporarily  to  their  own  devices. 


CHAPTER  XII 
A  YELLOW  STREAK? 

JACK  watched  the  dear  old  form  of  his  mother  as 
she  passed  from  the  room,  and  for  a  moment 
stood  gazing  blankly  at  the  door  which  hid  her 
from  his  sight.     Suddenly,  with  a  moan,  as  if 
stricken  by  a  leaden  missile,  he  sank  into  a  chair,  and 
bowing  his  head  covered  his  face  with  his  hands;  his 
frame,  convulsed  with  the  tumult  of  emotion,  seemed  to 
slowly  shrink  within  itself.     For  a  moment  he  seemed 
to  have  lost  complete  control  of  himself,  but  by  a  strong 
effort  he  pulled  himself  together,  and  looking  up  at  his 
friend,  his  voice  trembling  with  emotion,  "Forgive  me, 
old  fellow,"  he  cried,  "I  did  not  intend  to  give  way  in 
this  manner,  but  the  meaning  of  the  whole  thing  seemed 
suddenly  to  fall  upon  me  with  crushing  weight,  and  it 
simply  took  me  off  my  feet" 

Truly  one  could  not  look  upon  that  face  without  pity, 
for  only  suffering,  nay,  only  the  anguish  of  a  tortured 
soul,  could  leave  such  marks  upon  the  flesh.  The  quick 
eye  of  the  mother  had  long  since  discovered  that  some- 
thing was  amiss  with  her  boy,  which  even  his  forced 
gayety  could  not  veil  from  her  sight.  "  Tis  nothing — 
nothing,  indeed — but  a  little  overwork  that  a  day  or  two 
at  home  will  set  right,"  and  sweetheart  tells  sister,  "Jack 
is  working  too  hard — it's  a  shame — indeed,  it  is !" 

100 


A  YELLOW  STREAK?  101 

"Never  mind,  old  chap,"  said  the  elder  man,  encourag- 
ingly, "I  understand  your  feelings,  and  am  not  surprised 
that  you  threw  up  your  hands  for  the  moment.  But  you 
must  brace  up.  It  is  all  over  now,  and  you  are  going 
to  begin  anew  and  make  a  clean  sheet  this  time,"  and 
slightly  raising  the  young  fellow's  head,  and  looking 
into  his  eyes,  "Isn't  that  right?"  he  asked,  with  a  kindly 
smile. 

"Yes,  yes !  God  knows  I  am  going  to  begin  anew,  and 
with  his  help  I  shall  make  a  clean  sheet  this  time,  for  if 
I  were  to  live  a  thousand  years  I  could  never  forget  the 
torture  I  have  endured.  But  when  I  think  how  near  I 
came  to  sacrificing  everything  on  earth  dear  to  me,  and 
was  saved  only  by  a  miracle — a  miracle,  do  you  under- 
stand?— I  tremble  from  sheer  weakness.  And  they  say 
that  the  days  of  miracles  are  past.  Good  friend!"  he 
cried,  impulsively  grasping  the  other  by  the  hand,  "to 
you  I  owe  everything  that  I  possess,  or  ever  can  possess ; 
but  for  you  I  should  be  even  now  in  a  felon's  cell,  dis- 
graced and  despised  by  the  world,  and  an  object  of  pity 
and  shame  to  those  whose  lives  I  had  ruined.  Oh,  it 
drives  me  mad  to  think  of  it !" 

"Don't  think  of  it.  Think  of  the  good  resolves  you 
have  made — and  live  them." 

"You  have  never  told  me  why  you  did  all  this  for  me," 
said  Jack,  with  some  hesitation.  "You  promised  to  tell 
me  some  time.  You  must  not  think  me  impatient.  I 
know  you  will  tell  me  when  you  feel  inclined,  and  all  in 
good  time.  Besides,"  smiling  wanly,  "you  have  never 
lectured  me,  and  I  am  prepared  to  take  that  also  when 
it  suits  your  pleasure." 

Once — twice — thrice — the  elder  man  paced  slowly  back 


102  MISTER  BILL 

and  forth  across  the  room  before  being  moved  to  speech. 
"You  are  right,  Jack,"  he  finally  said,  "I  did  promise  you 
an  explanation — it  is  your  due;  and  as  well  now  as 
another  time,  I  dare  say.  This  miracle,  as  you  are 
pleased  to  term  it,  is  really  a  very  simple  matter." 

Taking  another  turn  across  the  room,  and  then  care- 
lessly, as  if  the  matter  were  hardly  worthy  of  serious 
consideration,  or  perhaps  to  change  the  current  of  the 
young  fellow's  thoughts,  he  continued :  "You  know  me 
as  from  the  West — yet  I  am  not  Western  born.  Some- 
thing less  than  half  my  life  has  been  cast  in  the  wild  and 
sparsely  settled  sections  of  the  West,  with  companions 
no  less  rough  than  the  country  itself.  It  is  a  hard  fight 
at  best.  Old  Dame  Fortune  and  Miss-Fortune  wage  a 
never  ending  struggle  for  supremacy.  Rich  to-day 
perhaps,  and  away  to  the  bad  to-morrow  without  a 
moment's  warning.  But  it  is  all  a  part  of  the  life,  and 
you  pick  yourself  up,  pull  yourself  together,  and  go  at  it 
again.  I  have  looked  starvation  in  the  face,  and  had  the 
gaunt  old  spectre  for  company  much  too  long  upon 
several  occasions,  and  the  regulation  misfortunes  have 
fallen  to  me  without  particular  partiality,  I  think  I  may 
say  without  undue  exaggeration.  With  these  same  mis- 
fortunes and  privations  comes  a  more  generous  and 
magnanimous  feeling  for  our  fellows,  and  when  we  see 
a  poor  chap  in  hard  luck  or  in  distress,  we  give  him  a  lift. 
A  man  never  knows  how  soon  the  positions  may  be 
reversed,  but  he  does  know  that  the  best  and  surest  way 
to  deserve  a  good  turn  himself,  is  to  treat  the  other 
fellow  just  about  as  he  would  like  to  be  treated  under 
similar  circumstances.  Simple  sort  of  theory,  yet  after 
all,  pretty  good  philosophy,  and  not  a  bad  religion  if 


A  YELLOW  STREAK?  103 

one  is  casting  about  for  a  creed — its  simplicity  recom- 
mends it.  So,  then,  to  those  rough  fellows  of  the  plains 
and  mountains,  it  becomes  a  part  of  their  better  natures 
to  offer  a  lift  or  a  life,  if  necessity  demands,  and  one  is 
not  more  freely  offered  than  the  other. 

"How  did  I  come  to  give  you  a  lift?  I  will  tell  you. 
This  unfortunate  experience,  new  to  you,  is  an  old  story 
to  me.  Too  many  times  have  I  seen  men,  young  and 
old,  come  into  mining-camps  and  the  frontier  towns, 
stake  and  lose  their  money.  Perhaps  the  wages  of  a 
season  or  two,  carefully  hoarded  for  some  particular  pur- 
pose; proceeds  from  the  sale  of  a  mine — the  results  of 
months  and  perhaps  years  of  labor,  suffering  and  priva- 
tion ;  a  drove  of  cattle,  one  thing  or  another,  it  matters 
not.  It  is  bad  enough  if  a  man  has  gambled  away  his 
own  money,  but  the  poor  devil  deprived  of  even  this 
solace  is  miserable  indeed.  After  that  point  is  reached, 
they  are  much  the  same,  differing  only  in  minor  details. 
The  night  I  saw  you  at  the  docks,  I  recognized  your 
condition  at  a  glance.  Your  white  face,  haggard  and 
drawn,  the  unnatural  glitter  in  your  eyes,  told  me  the 
story  as  plainly  as  words.  I  said  to  myself,  this  young 
fellow  is  a  hard  loser,  and  needs  looking  after.  You  ran 
into  me  because  I  stood  in  your  way,  and  permitted  you 
to  butt  up  against  me.  When  you  had  finished  your 
story,  the  whole  thing  seemed  perfectly  clear  to  me.  I 
saw  the  happiness — the  lives — of  four  people  balanced 
against  four  thousand  dollars.  A  thousand  dollars  a  life ! 
It  seemed  too  great  a  sacrifice.  Lives  are  worth  more 
than  a  thousand  dollars — such  lives  as  I  felt  sure  were  at 
stake  in  this  instance.  I  was  satisfied  that  you  had  told 
me  the  truth,  at  least  I  was  willing  to  gamble  a  little 


104  MISTER  BILL 

myself  on  the  general  proposition,  and  merely,  as  a  small 
precaution,  to  feel  that  I  was  at  least  getting  a  run  for 
my  money,  wished  to  assure  myself  that  you  were  in  the 
employ  of  the  brokerage  firm  you  mentioned,  and  that 
I  easily  ascertained  next  day." 

"Ah!  good  friend,  it  is  all  very  simple,  and  yet — yet  I 
am  unable  to  grasp  the  full  significance  of  your  generous 
deed,"  cried  the  young  man,  tears  rolling  down  his  pale 
face. 

"I  could  not  well  have  done  less  under  the  circum- 
stances. I  am  something  of  a  coward.  Most  of  us  have 
a  yellow  streak  in  our  make-up  and  I  am  no  exception.  I 
would  not  dare — fact,  I  literally  would  not  dare — to  have 
in  my  keeping  the  power  to  save  four  lives,  or  what  I  am 
pleased  to  consider  their  equivalent,  and  withhold  that 
power  merely  for  the  sake  of  a  few  paltry  dollars  that 
I  had  dug  from  the  earth.  I  should  fully  expect,  sooner 
or  later,  in  one  way  or  another,  to  pay  even  a  greater 
price  for  my  cowardice.  Now  you  know  it  all.  I  shall 
not  lecture  you,  as  I  believe  you  have  suffered  sufficiently 
to  teach  you  a  lesson  for  all  time.  If  not,  no  words  of 
mine  will  impress  you.  I  intend  to  keep  you  in  sight, 
and  the  settlement  I  finally  make  with  you  will  depend 
much  upon  yourself." 

That  the  young  man  was  at  first  deeply  interested  in 
the  explanation  that  seemed  to  involve  such  an  air  of 
mystery,  was  plainly  apparent.  That  his  interest  quickly 
developed  into  a  distinct  admiration  for  the  man  speaking 
so  carelessly  and  indifferently  of  his  life,  and  the  motives 
which  actuated  him,  was  no  less  apparent.  Here  was  a 
process  of  reasoning  and  a  type  of  man  new  to  him. 
Here  was  a  man  who  showed  him  the  littleness  and  nar- 


A  YELLOW  STREAK?  105 

rowness  of  his  own  life.  Here  was  a  man  who  had 
struggled — had  been  beaten,  but  not  cowed ;  a  man  who 
had  suffered  want  and  privation,  adversity  and  tempta- 
tion ;  who  had  faced  death  in  many  forms ;  yet  this  man 
had  come  through  the  fire  not  only  unscathed,  but 
strengthened  and  made  better  for  the  lessons  he  had 
learned  from  his  rough  and  bitter  experiences.  Here  was 
a  good  example  to  follow — a  superb  specimen  of  man- 
hood to  mould  his  own  life  after  so  far  as  it  lay  in  his 
power. 

"As  I  have  thanked  you  before,  I  thank  you  again, 
and  you  shall  never  have  cause  to  think  me  careless  or 
ungrateful  for  what  you  have  done  for  me,"  he  earnestly 
declared.  "You  will  forgive  me,"  he  said,  hesitatingly, 
"but  you — you  could  afford  to  do  all  this  ?" 

"I  have  not  inconvenienced  myself.  I  will,  however, 
offer  you  one  suggestion.  You  have  suffered — suffered 
deeply.  Remember  this,  when  you  meet  any  of  your 
fellows  in  distress — man  or  woman — do  not  refuse  them 
at  least  a  little  assistance.  Go  out  of  your  way  to  do 
a  good  turn.  Give  according  to  your  means.  Even  a 
cup  of  coffee  will  sometimes  put  new  life  into  a  dis- 
couraged stomach,  and  you  can  never  tell  when  even  a 
kind  word  will  make  the  world  seem  brighter  and  per- 
haps give  new  hope  to  a  weary  soul.  You  can  always 
afford  both,  and  the  good  you  are  able  to  do  for  others 
will  help  you  to  forget  your  own  troubles,  and  expiate 
the  wrong  you  have  done.  Try  it." 


CHAPTER  XIII 
THE  WOMAN 

BY  the  way,"  Waldron  quickly  remarked,  doubt- 
less to  divert  the  conversation  to  lighter  ways, 
"your  sister  mentioned  a  guest." 

"Yes,  Mrs.  Davidge,"  said  Jack.  "She  is 
the  daughter  of  an  old  friend  of  my  mother's.  We  are 
all  very  fond  of  her,  and  she  runs  down  from  the  city  for 
a  day  or  two  whenever  she  feels  inclined,  knowing  that 
she  is  always  welcome.  I  don't  know,"  this  uncertain 
declaration  being  accompanied  by  a  shake  of  the  head, 
and  a  smile  not  too  jovial,  "but  I  have  been  the  uncon- 
scious means  of  bringing  you  into  the  presence  of  your 
fate.  Fact  is,  Mrs.  Davidge  is  a  widow,  of  say,  seven 
and  twenty,  rich  and  charming.  Mark  me  well,  and  be- 
ware! But  that  is  not  all,"  he  added,  glancing  critically 
at  his  guest  to  note  the  effect  of  this  possibly  startling 
information. 

"What  else?  I  may  as  well  know  the  worst  at  once." 
"Well,  nature  has  been  very  kind  to  her  in  many  re- 
spects— positively  lavish  in  others.  To  be  sure,  she  pos- 
sesses only  the  fashionable  requirements  in  the  way  of 
features — she  is  nothing  if  not  correct,  you  must  know. 
But  her  eyes !  Ah,  old  chap,  I  verily  believe  she  was  de- 
signed by  her  Creator  as  a  punishment  to  our  sex.  Eyes 
without  intellect— champagne  without  fizz.  But  she  has 

106 


THE  WOMAN  107 

intellect — well  developed,  if  you  please.  She  possesses 
the  faculty  of  bringing  aboriginal  traits  into  evidence  to 
an  alarming  degree — she  simply  makes  monkeys  of  men. 
Are  you  interested  ?"  he  inquired,  somewhat  doubtfully. 

"Oh,  exceedingly !"  replied  the  guest,  glancing  over  a 
book  he  had  taken  from  the  table.  "Is  there  more  to  be 
said  ?" 

"Much,  my  dear  fellow,  much — the  limit  is  my  inca- 
pacity. I  am  not  well  versed  in  the  classics  of  beauty, 
but  she  is  in  the  blue  ribbon  class  with  lengths  to  spare. 
She  is  a  New  Yorker  in  all  the  term  implies.  Is  your 
curiosity  aroused,  sir?" 

"I  am  possessed  by  contending  emotions,"  was  the 
somewhat  ambiguous  reply  of  the  other,  as  he  tossed  the 
book  back  on  the  table  and  possessed  himself  of  a  com- 
fortable chair. 

"She  married  very  young.  Parental  affair — money  in- 
volved, and  that  sort  of  thing,  you  know,"  continued 
Jack,  evidently  desirous  that  his  friend  should  be  well 
informed  concerning  his  fair  guest.  "Her  parents  and 
old  man  Davidge  were  about  the  only  ones  who  seemed  to 
think  well  of  the  match,  but  as  it  was  for  them  to  give 
and  to  receive,  the  deal  went  through.  I  don't  think  she 
was  very  enthusiastic  about  the  affair  herself,  if  the  truth 
were  known,  but  she  kept  her  thoughts  to  herself,  at 
least  she  never  confided  in  me.  But  the  next  time  she 
starts  she  will  have  something  to  say  about  the  weight 
she  takes  up,  or  I  don't  know  her." 

"You  are  still  speaking  of  the  young  woman  ?" 

"I  guess  they  all  realized  when  it  was  too  late  that  she 
had  been  given  the  worst  of  the  start,"  he  continued, 
ignoring  this  rather  questionable  interruption,  "and  when 


io8  MISTER  BILL 

the  old  man  discovered,  as  he  must  have  done,  that  it 
was  sheer  nonsense  to  hitch  up  an  old  campaigner  with 
a  young  filly  just  coming  into  her  stride  and  expect  them 
to  keep  an  even  pace,  he  showed  that  he  was  still  a  dead 
game  sport  by  just  quietly  cashing  in — died,  you  know — 
and  left  her  all  his  money,  and  the  house  on  the  Avenue, 
where  she  and  her  mother  still  live.  Rather  handsome  of 
the  old  fellow  after  all.  His  widow  is  certainly  very 
popular,  and  none  the  less  on  account  of  the  money  he 
left  her.  She  is  the  whole  thing  wherever  she  appears ; 
always  a  crowd  around  her — admiration  of  the  men  and 
of  course  the  envy  of  the  women — if  no  worse. 

"If  you  enter  the  running,  old  chap,"  he  rattled  on, 
no  comment  being  offered  by  his  auditor,  "you  will  find 
a  large  field,  but  Mr.  Chadeller  is  the  man  you  will  have 
to  beat  out — at  least  he  will  be  most  in  the  way.  I  sup- 
pose he  is  down  here  now — he  will  bring  the  girls  home. 
He  owns  quite  a  little  property  hereabouts  which  requires 
considerable  looking  after — at  times.  He  seems  to  be 
the  most  likely  winner  in  sight,  but  I  don't  think  much 
of  his  form — ugly  performer,  you  know — liable  to  throw 
himself." 

"Your  appreciation  of  the  gentleman  is  of  a  negative 
quality,  I  am  compelled  to  infer,"  said  Waldron. 

"There  is  certainly  not  much  love  lost  between  us.  He 
is  insanely  jealous,  and  resents  any  attention  paid  to  Mrs. 
Davidge.  Result,  he  has  developed  a  state  of  chronic 
disagreeableness  which  at  times  amounts  to  downright 
insolence.  I  should  have  taken  positive  delight  in 
thrashing  him  upon  several  occasions,  but  unfortunately 
my  ability  has  not  been  equal  to  my  desire  by  about  forty 
pounds." 


THE  WOMAN  109 

"The  appreciation  of  your  lack  of  avoirdupois  would 
seem  to  be  the  conservative  part  of  valor." 

"I  think  she  tires  of  the  mad  whirl  at  times  and  comes 
down  here  to  get  away  from  the  crowd  and  enjoy  a  little 
rest  and  quiet,"  continued  the  young  man,  ignoring  what 
he  evidently  regarded  as  a  mild  facetiousness  at  his  ex- 
pense. "During  the  summer  she  frequently  prolongs  her 
visits  and  then  some  of  her  more  devoted  satellites  sud- 
denly discover  an  attraction  about  the  old  town  and  send 
down  their  traps  and  put  up  at  the  hotel,  or  drop  their 
hooks  off  the  shore,  and  the  whole  crowd  stands  at  atten- 
tion. Her  ability  to  manage  men — and  horses,  too — is 
little  less  than  marvelous.  She  drives  them  both — man 
and  beast — with  a  high  hand." 

"Well,  young  man,  after  your  very  comprehensive 
dissertation  and  warning,  I  can  hardly  do  less  than  to 
absolve  you  from  all  responsibility  of  whatsoever  kind 
or  character.  All  of  which  is  extremely  kind  of  you  even 
if  a  trifle  unfair  to  the  lady,"  said  the  guest,  rising  from 
his  chair.  "All  right,  Jack!  Forewarned  is  forearmed, 
and  thanks  to  you  I  am  a  walking  arsenal.  Please  order 
up  the  enemy !" 

"Here  they  are !"  exclaimed  Jack.  "I  hear  their  voices 
outside.  You  had  better  get  over  by  that  table,  old  man," 
his  spirits  rising  perceptibly;  "you  will  need  a  bracer. 
She  always  comes  with  a  rush — sweeps  you  right  off  your 
feet." 

"We  crawl  into  a  hole  in  the  ground  out  in  my  coun- 
try when  things  of  that  sort  appear  on  the  horizon,"  said 
Waldron,  apparently  not  impressed  with  the  serious  na- 
ture of  the  situation. 

"Let  me  give  you  a  few  final  injunctions,"  said  Jack, 


no  MISTER  BILL 

his  eyes  sparkling  with  merriment.  "Her  manner  will  be 
charmingly  impulsive  and  effusive,  and  sufficiently  per- 
sonal to  make  you  think  rather  well  of  yourself.  She 
will  perhaps  tell  you  that  she  is  delighted  to  add  her 
welcome  although  this  is  not  her  home — only  by  adoption, 
you  know.  She  should  have  been  a  politician ;  as  a  man 
she  would  have  shaken  her  way  into  the  presidential 
chair.  The  mere  extending  of  the  hand  is  a  revelation  in 
itself — graciousness,  impulsiveness,  and  frankness,  all 
concentrated  into  one  pretty  movement,  ably  seconded 
by  a  smile  of  seraphic  sweetness.  Yes,  indeed,  she  has 
heard  dear  Maude,  and  dear  Edith  speak  of  you  so  many, 
many  times.  They  have  all  been  impatiently  awaiting 
your  coming,  but  men  have  so  many  calls  upon  their  time 
what  can  they,  poor  things,  expect  ?  But  you  have  come 
to  them  at  last — you  are  from  the  West,  aren't  you? 
beware,  unsuspecting  mortal — the  toils  of  that  fate  are 
being  drawn  about  you.  Really,  she  possesses  a  great 
admiration  for  men  of  the  West — the  coils  are  being 
drawn  closer  and  closer — especially  men  of  the  plains  and 
mountains — Ah,  son  of  Adam,  it  is  the  same  old  story ! — 
they  are  such  brave,  rugged,  manly  fellows,  such  perfect 
types  of  manhood,  and — it's  all  over,  poor  fellow — those 
same  eyes  that  I  have  warned  you  against  have  done  their 
deadly  work." 

"What  would  this — this  divine  creature — say  to  hear 
herself  so  maligned  ?"  Waldron  protested. 

"You  may  tell  her  at  the  first  opportunity,  with  my 
compliments,"  replied  the  unabashed  youth.  "I  am 
deeply  indebted  to  her  for  past  courtesies,"  he  added, 
rather  apologetically.  "I  should  really  like  to  see  some 
estimable  gentleman — like  yourself,  for  instance — stand 


THE  WOMAN  ill 

up  and  give  and  take  with  her  for  a  few  rounds.  She 
has  had  so  many  walkovers  she  is  rather  inclined  to 
patronize  our  sex." 

"Really,  Jack,  you  are  as  difficult  to  follow  as  you  are 
uncomplimentary,  which  is  saying  considerable.  I  refuse 
to  hear  the  lady  further  maligned,"  declared  the  mild 
mannered  man,  with  an  assumption  of  seriousness,  which 
in  truth  seemed  not  too  deep. 

"I  can  see  Mr.  Chadeller  even  now,"  persisted  this 
young  man  terrible,  "glaring  at  you  and  wanting  to  know 
who  you  are,  where  you  came  from,  and  your  pedigree 
generally,  before  he  permits  you  to  enter  the  charmed 
circle  of  distinguished  admirers  of  the  fair  Cathalee,  of 
which  he  is  the  self-constituted  head  and  censor.  Oh,  me ! 

"Here  they  come!"  he  cried,  a  moment  later,  eagerly 
grasping  that  fact  to  forestall  a  possible  move  of  re- 
taliation on  the  part  of  his  long-suffering  victim.  "That's 
she !"  he  exclaimed,  as  the  sound  of  a  mirthful  laugh  came 
rippling  into  the  room.  "Those  are  her  skirts!"  he  an- 
nounced an  instant  later.  "She  will  be  in  the  lead — she 
is  always  first  under  the  wire,"  he  cried,  his  eyes  snapping 
with  suppressed  merriment.  "They're  off!"  was  his 
final  admonition,  under  his  breath,  as  into  the  room 
swept  the  subject  of  his  remarks. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
AS  MEN  ARE  MADE 

CATHALEE  DAVIDGE  was  a  distinct  type  of 
American  womanhood.    In  the  world,  and  of  it, 
possessing  power  over  others  of  which  she  was 
not    unconscious,    yet    not    realizing    the    full 
measure  of  her  control,  nor  whence  it  came.    The  great 
strength  of  her  personality,  which  transcended  all  others, 
and  beside  which  the  little  artificialities  faded  into  insig- 
nificance, was  her  own  innate  goodness  of  heart,  her 
depth  and  breadth  of  character,  which  rose  above  the 
sordid  smallness  of  her  surroundings,  and  compelled  the 
recognition  of  weaker  mentalities. 

Hers  was  a  happy  disposition,  seeking  the  pleasures 
and  recreations  which  appealed  most  strongly  to  her 
robust  and  buoyant  vitality,  and  giving  her  unstinted 
efforts  to  the  work  she  had  relegated  to  herself  with 
equal  energy  and  enthusiasm.  Free  from  malicious 
gossip,  preferring  to  think  well  rather  than  ill  of  any  and 
all,  and  ever  ready  to  stand  by  a  friend  through  thick 
and  thin,  once  satisfied  that  he  or  she  was  in  the  right. 
The  very  buoyancy  of  her  nature  would,  of  necessity, 
give  that  element  of  society  which  constitutes  itself  the 
detractors  and  censors  of  its  fellows,  golden  opportuni- 
ties for  speeding  its  shafts  of  innuendo  and  malice,  but 
the  breath  of  scandal  had  never  seared  her  fair  name. 

112 


AS  MEN  ARE  MADE  113 

"Egad!  It  does  my  old  heart  good  to  see  that  girl 
sweep  into  a  ball-room,"  vociferated  old  Major  Rothford. 
"My  word  for  it,  she's  just  bubbling  with  life  and  spirit, 
and  brings  a  freshness  along  with  her  that  takes  ten 
years  off  my  old  age  to  lay  eyes  on  her.  Natural  as  a 
flower,  true  as  steel,  and  smart  as  a  whip.  Egad,  sir, 
you  can't  beat  her !"  and  the  old  major  voiced  the  senti- 
ments of  the  many. 

It  is  true  that  the  little  archer  had  sped  more  than  one 
dart  with  unerring  aim,  but  each  in  the  end  had  received 
the  same  answer  when  he  stepped  beyond  the  boundary 
line  of  friendship.  She  had  nothing  further  to  offer. 
No,  there  was  no  other.  And  if  he  went  away  and  re- 
turned, thinking  that  the  lapse  of  time  might  work  a 
change,  the  answer  was  the  same.  So  it  was  not  strange 
that  men,  failing  despite  their  repeated  assaults  to  make 
any  appreciable  impression  upon  the  impregnable  wall  of 
perfect  self-control  with  which  she  seemed  to  fortify 
herself,  also  failed  to  understand  the  cause  of  their  futile 
efforts,  and  were  inclined  to  agree  with  the  oft  expressed 
belief,  that  in  matters  of  the  heart  she  was  cold,  if  not 
impossible,  never  thinking  that  the  secret  might  lie  in  the 
weakness  of  the  besiegers,  rather  than  in  the  uncon- 
querable strength  of  the  fortress. 

"What  was  that  remark,  Jack — you  rascal !  Confess — 
you  look  positively  guilty !"  she  declared,  descending  upon 
that  luckless  youth. 

But  why  the  start,  barely  perceptible,  perhaps,  on  the 
part  of  the  other  occupant  of  the  room?  Well,  indeed, 
suppose  he  did  start?  Men  have  doubtless  started  be- 
fore, and  perhaps  even  trembled  when  this  same  person 
came  into  their  presence.  Ah !  the  mystery  deepens.  Or 


114  MISTER  BILL 

was  it  mere  coincidence?  As  the  lady  turned  to  greet 
the  gentleman,  she  suddenly  started — hesitated — but  for 
an  instant,  however,  and  the  formalities  of  introduction 
were  duly  acknowledged. 

As  Jack  had  predicted,  Mr.  Chadeller  had  been  the 
escort  of  the  party,  and  was  duly  presented  to  Waldron. 
He  was  certainly  not  more  than  civil.  Perhaps  he  looked 
upon  the  new-comer  as  another  possible  rival,  and  while 
no  particular  harm  need  be  anticipated,  no  good  could 
possibly  result.  All  of  which  would  indicate  that  he  was 
a  man  of  caution,  and  not  confident  unto  rashness  of  his 
ability  to  ultimately  carry  off  the  prize  on  which  he  had 
set  his  hopes  and  his  ambitions,  and  as  much  of  his  heart 
as  he  could  disassociate  from  the  process  of  money- 
letting  and  getting. 

The  conversation  quickly  became  general,  or  more 
properly  speaking,  was  monopolized  by  Mrs.  Davidge, 
Edith  and  Jack,  all  seeming  to  talk  at  once,  their  running 
fire  of  badinage  being  directed  for  the  most  part  upon  the 
stranger.  The  first  named  opened  civilities  or  hostilities 
— there  might  have  been  some  doubt  in  Waldron's  mind 
which  term  was  applicable — much  as  Jack  had  predicted, 
which  was  really  not  surprising  as  they  were  channels 
into  which  the  conversation  might  naturally  drift.  A 
man  of  Waldron's  robust  physique  and  the  life  he  had 
led  would  naturally  appeal  to  her  own  wholesome  nature. 
He  seemed  inclined,  however,  to  regard  her  pleasantries 
with  mild  suspicion.  He  had  seen  men  of  the  West  make 
tenderfeet  dance  to  the  music  of  shots  fired  at  their  feet ; 
was  he  merely  dancing  to  the  music  of  this  siren's  flattery 
and  badinage?  He  was  a  tenderfoot  once  upon  a  time, 
it  was  true,  but  that  was  long  ago,  and  under  conditions 


AS  MEN  ARE  MADE  115 

that  left  no  doubt  as  to  the  etiquette  involved,  which  was 
promptly  and  cordially  expressed  through  the  medium  of 
a  "straight  right"  delivered  with  the  artistic  abandon  of 
the  trained  athlete,  bringing  the  festivities  to  an  abrupt 
termination,  and  his  would-be  entertainer  to  the  floor. 

Such  heroic  measures  were  hardly  applicable  to  present 
conditions,  and  the  dance  must  be  permitted  to  go  merrily 
on  with  the  best  grace  possible.  So  it  was  that  while  the 
charming  creature  (figuratively)  talked  rings  around 
him,  he  merely  (another  figure)  turned  in  his  tracks  and 
met  her  at  whatever  point  of  the  circle  she  presented 
herself.  She  had  doubtless  soon  discovered  that  her 
antagonist  was  not  to  be  lightly  rated — a  fellow  who 
persisted  in  choosing  his  ground,  and  the  pace  he  would 
go,  refusing  absolutely  to  be  drawn  away  from  the 
stronghold  of  his  self-possession,  and  avoiding  ambushes 
like  a  seasoned  veteran.  In  short,  showing  commendable 
adaptability  to  the  requirements  of  the  situation,  and 
withal,  conveying  the  impression  of  a  reserved  force 
should  occasion  require. 

Mr.  Chadeller's  part  in  the  conversation  had  been 
merely  of  a  perfunctory  character.  That  gentleman  was 
palpably  ill  at  ease.  Matters  were  not  progressing  to  his 
liking.  His  greeting  to  Jack  had  been  none  too  gracious, 
which  doubtless  caused  that  young  man  to  regretfully 
recall  the  disparity  of  forty  pounds  avoirdupois  standing 
between  him  and  simple  civility.  He  viewed  with  little 
satisfaction  the  frank,  good-natured  greeting  Mrs. 
Davidge  bestowed  upon  the  young  man,  nor  did  the  un- 
accountable incident  of  the  greeting  with  the  stranger 
escape  him.  It  was  insignificant,  to  be  sure — yet  it 
boded  no  good.  What  was  it  anyhow?  He  was  sus- 


Ii6  MISTER  BILL 

picious  and  uncomfortable — he  was  rarely  otherwise. 
Moreover,  he  was  ignored ;  certainly  was  not  a  necessary 
adjunct  to  the  little  party.  To  receive  his  sanction,  or 
even  toleration,  his  was  the  central  figure  around  which 
a  company  must  revolve.  By  some  strange  process  of 
which  nature  alone  holds  the  secret,  he  saw  things  from 
a  converse  standpoint  to  the  majority  of  his  fellows  with 
the  inevitable  result  that  he  gratified  his  own  inordinate 
vanity,  and  bored  the  many. 

His  desire  to  shine  in  society  through  the  medium  of 
his  intellect  was  doubtless  owing  to  these  same  con- 
flicting elements  in  his  character.  If  his  wit  was  small 
his  purse  was  large,  which  secured  for  him  a  courteous 
tolerance  in  certain  quarters;  in  others,  varied  forms  of 
flattery — a  kind  of  subsidized  adulation — a  tribute  to  his 
purse  which  deluded  the  man  and  demeaned  his  flat- 
terers. 

Even  a  gentle  and  enduring  patience  has  its  limita- 
tions, and  as  Mr.  Chadeller  was  a  stranger  alike  to  one 
and  the  other,  he  could  not  be  expected  to  long  abide 
his  present  negative  position,  and  the  young  man  was 
therefore  little  surprised  when  the  gentleman  indicated 
that  he  would  speak  with  him. 

"Who  is  he?"  he  demanded,  indicating  the  "he"  by  a 
movement  of  his  head,  when  he  had  led  the  way  a  little 
apart  from  the  others. 

"The  gentleman  is  Mr.  William  Waldron,"  replied  the 
young  man,  none  too  amiably,  doubtless  irritated  by 
the  insolent  abruptness  of  the  demand  as  well  as  by  the 
meddlesome  spirit  which  prompted  it. 

On  several  occasions  this  same  gentleman  had  at- 
tempted to  exercise  a  censorship  over  the  young  man, 


AS  MEN  ARE  MADE  117 

presuming  not  a  little  upon  his  long  acquaintance  with 
the  family,  and  a  certain  interest  he  was  not  unwilling 
should  be  understood  that  he  entertained  for  its  general 
welfare.  The  real  cause  of  his  interest,  however,  might 
better  be  attributed  to  the  extremely  friendly  relations 
of  a  certain  fair  lady  with  the  family,  and  his  present 
agitation  was  doubtless  inspired  more  by  the  gracious- 
ness  with  which  she  was  pleased  to  regard  the  stranger, 
than  by  his  possible  demoralizing  influence  upon  the  fam- 
ily circle. 

"Waldron  ?"  he  repeated,  with  ill  concealed  displeasure, 
"I  don't  know  any  Waldrons.  I — " 

"It  is  sufficient  for  me  to  say,  Mr.  Chadeller,  that 
the  gentleman  is  my  friend — a  guest  in  my  mother's 
house — a  welcome  guest — and  you  can  hardly  do  less 
than  to  remember  that  you  are  also  a  guest  if  you  would 
retain  the  same  consideration,"  said  the  young  man,  with 
careful  distinctness,  looking  his  inquisitor  squarely  in 
the  eye. 

Surprise  and  indignation  were  plainly  depicted  upon 
Mr.  Chadeller's  countenance,  as  he  grasped  the  full  in- 
tent and  meaning  of  the  young  man's  reply.  "You  will 
be  sorry  for  this,  young  man,  before  you  are  much 
older,"  he  fumed,  under  his  breath.  "You  will  see  the 
day  when  you  will  need  the  assistance  of  the  friends 
you  so  glibly  insult — but  I  wash  my  hands  of  you,"  and 
turning  abruptly,  he  made  a  hurried  adieu  to  Mrs. 
Davidge,  conceded  a  nod  to  the  young  ladies,  no  notice 
whatever  to  Waldron,  and  passed  out. 

"What  have  you  done,  Jack?"  cried  Maude,  not  a 
little  alarmed,  as  she  was  aware  of  the  rather  tense  rela- 
tions existing  between  the  men,  and  had  long  feared 


ii8  MISTER  BILL 

an  open  rupture,  against  which  she  had  frequently 
warned  Jack. 

"I  hope  you  have  not  been  rude,  Jack,"  Mrs.  Davidge 
ventured,  well  knowing  his  impetuous  disposition. 

"Well,  I  didn't  exactly  turn  the  other  cheek,"  he  ad- 
mitted. "I  gave  about  as  I  received." 

A  feeling  of  constraint  had  fallen  upon  the  little  party. 
Maude  should  be  returning  home,  which  meant  escort 
duty  for  Master  Jack,  and  the  young  ladies  hied  them- 
selves upstairs  for  her  wraps,  and  Mrs.  Davidge,  re- 
fusing, as  she  laughingly  declared,  to  assume  entire 
charge  of  the  men,  followed  almost  immediately. 

"I  am  the  immediate  cause  of  the  severance  of  peace- 
ful relations  with  Mr.  Chadeller,  I  presume,"  said 
Waldron,  when  they  were  alone.  "You  felt  that  cir- 
cumstances warranted  such  action,  I  have  no  doubt,  yet 
I  am  sorry  to  have  been  the  particular  element  of  dis- 
cord." 

"I  felt  entirely  justified,  yes,"  replied  Jack.  "The 
man  reflected  unkindly  and  unnecessarily  upon  my  guest. 
His  impudence  to  me  I  might  have  overlooked  rather 
than  be  disagreeable  in  my  own  home,  but  he  forfeited 
that  consideration  when  he  ceased  to  remember  that  he 
was  himself  a  guest." 

"Ready!"  announced  Maude,  as  she  descended  the 
stairs.  "Good-night,"  she  said,  giving  Waldron  her  hand, 
and  a  pretty  smile.  "I  shall  send  Jack  back  immediately." 

"Take  the  big  chair,  and  light  up  your  weed,  old  man 
— I  shall  not  be  long,"  said  Jack,  as  he  left  his  guest  in 
sole  possession. 


CHAPTER  XV 
"DO  I  INTRUDE?" 

IN  the  great  easy  chair,  the  soft  glow  of  the  shaded 
light  falling  full  upon  his  upturned  face,  comfort- 
ably reposed  the  lone  occupant  of  the  room.    Silently 
he  sent  ring  after  ring  of  fragrant  smoke  into  space 
which   disappeared   one   after   the    other   even   as   his 
thoughts  took  wings,  and  left  no  trace  of  their  coming 
or  their  going.    All  unconscious  was  he  of  a  white-robed 
figure  that  was  softly,  almost  timidly,  descending  the 
stairs ;  all  unconscious  of  two  bright  eyes  intently  watch- 
ing the  smoke  curling  up  from  behind  the  chair,  which 
from  their  point  of  observation  was  the  only  evidence 
of  its  occupancy.     Now  they  roam  uncertainly  about ; 
now  they  hesitate  and  seem  about  to  retreat.    Ah!  now 
they  sparkle  with  merriment  and — 

"Do  I  intrude?"  queried  a  laughing  voice,  breaking 
the  silence. 

"No.    Do  I  ?"  inquired  the  man,  rising  from  the  chair. 

"That  sir,  cannot  be,  since  it  is  your  privacy  that  is 
invaded." 

"Ah!"  expressive  of  satisfaction. 

"I  was  conscious  of  the  odor  of  a  very  good  cigar, 
which  suggested  the  thought  that  there  must  surely  be  a 
man  in  the  immediate  vicinity." 

"A  not  illogical  conclusion,"  he  admitted. 

119 


120  MISTER  BILL 

"The  thought  also  occurred  to  me,  that  if  I  followed 
the  smoke  of  that  cigar  far  enough  I  might  find  a  man 
at  the  end  of  it — perhaps  a  very  lonesome  man.  So  I 
trailed  you." 

"Your  theory  certainly  possesses  the  merit  of  practical 
demonstration.  You  don't  object  to  the  cigar?" 

"On  the  contrary,  I  adore  a  cigar.  It  gives  one  such 
a  comfortable  feeling  to  know  that  a  man  is  somewhere 
about  the  place." 

"Now  that  the  man  is  discovered,  what  would  you 
suggest?  Will  you  come  down,  or — shall  I  come  up?" 

"Neither,  if  you  please,  sir.  I  might  suggest  a  tele- 
phone, if  you  feel  unequal  to  the  distance." 

"Very  sorry,  but  I  don't  happen  to  have  one  about 
me." 

"Very  well,  then,  if  you  are  really  inspired  by  a  desire 
to  make  the  best  of  a  bad  situation,  you  might  move 
your  chair  over  here,"  indicating  a  space  in  front  of  the 
landing,  "and  I  will  possess  myself  of  the  gallery,  and 
you  may  talk  to  me  until  Jack  returns.  This  is  per- 
fectly lovely!"  she  exclaimed,  a  moment  later  when  he 
had  -drawn  the  big  chair  across  the  room,  and  she  had 
seated  herself  on  the  little  bench-like  arrangement  ex- 
tending around  the  landing.  "I  will  be  the  audience,  and 
you  may  be  the  actor,  if  you  please.  Fancy  me  the  gal- 
lery— a  whole  row  of  little  gallery  gods — " 

"Rather,  queen  of  the  heavens,"  he  gently  interposed. 

"Thank  you,  most  gallant  mummer,"  making  him  a 
pretty  courtesy.  "Queen,  then,  since  your  fancy  is  bet- 
ter pleased." 

"And  what  part  do  you  think  me  best  fitted  to  enact  ?" 
he  inquired,  entering  into  the  spirit  of  her  mood. 


"DO  I  INTRUDE?"  121 

"Is  it  possible  you  do  not  know?  Why,  heroic  melo- 
drama, to  be  sure.  Arrayed  in  the  picturesque  garb  of 
the  plains,  you  are  quite  the  ideal  hero.  Oh,  yes,  we 
have  met  before !"  she  laughed,  in  answer  to  his  look 
of  surprised  inquiry,  "and  I  have  seen  you  gorgeously 
arrayed  in  all  your  habiliments  of  war." 

"Ah,  indeed!  The  drama  is  developing  most  unex- 
pected and  no  less  interesting  possibilities." 

"Have  a  care,  sir.  It  may  develop  undesirable  situa- 
tions as  well!" 

"And  what  may  have  been  our  relations  upon  this 
particular  occasion,  may  I  ask?" 

"Really,  sir,  you  are  positively  embarrassing.  Permit 
me  to  assure  you  that  my  intentions  are  honorable — 
quite  honorable." 

"Can  it  be  that  we  were  soul  affinities  drawn  to  a 
blessed  re-union — " 

"Sir!" 

"Or  mere  corporeal  entities  that  meet  to-day  only  to 
part  to-morrow,"  he  inquired,  with  an  assumption  of  seri- 
ousness. 

"We  are  likely  to  part  very  soon  at  the  pace  you 
have  set,  sir.  I  confess  my  inability  to  follow  you,"  she 
declared,  with  considerable  spirit. 

"What,  then,  may  we  consider  the  present  state  of  our 
relations — say  a  conservative  estimate?" 

"Nil!  I  refuse  to  force  my  acquaintance  upon  a  man 
who  regards  it  with  such  utter  indifference,"  she  declared, 
with  impressive  dignity. 

"Would  a  broader  and  more  liberal  interpretation  tend 
to  simplify  matters,  and  advance  the  acquaintance  to 


122  MISTER  BILL 

any  considerable  degree?"  he  inquired,  with  fine  dis- 
tinction. 

"Pray,  sir,  do  not  concern  yourself  further.  I  refuse 
absolutely  to  discuss  the  matter.  It  is  really  of  no  impor- 
tance whether  we  have  met  before,  or  whether  we  ever 
meet  again.  Why  I  ever  mentioned  the  ridiculous  sub- 
ject is  quite  beyond  me.  I  shall  wish  you  good-night, 
sir,"  she  told  him,  with  chilling  and  dignified  composure, 
rising  from  her  seat,  preparing  to  take  her  departure. 

"Pardon  me,  but  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance — to 
me,"  he  qualified,  with  rare  good  judgment.  "Believe 
me,"  he  said,  quite  humbly,  fully  alive  to  the  serious 
nature  of  his  offense,  "the  seeming  indifference  which 
you  so  justly  condemn  is  but  an  assumption — a  weak 
subterfuge — a  cloak,  as  it  were  to  conceal  my  real  emo- 
tions. And  now  that  I  have  confessed  my  poor  de- 
fense, I  trust  you  will  be  generous  and  assist  me  to 
identify  myself." 

Was  the  man  quite  serious,  or  was  he  going  from  bad 
to  worse,  and  simply  kicking  his  heels  behind  the  guise 
assumed,  and  making  merry  at  her  expense  ? 

"You  may  dispense  with  the  cloak,  if  you  please,  sir. 
It  ill  becomes  you  if  you  would  know  the  truth.  A 
man  is  sometimes  judged  by  the  coat  that  he  wears, 
and  it  behooves  him,  in  the  present  instance,  to  don  his 
own  and  his  best  apparel,"  was  the  somewhat  mollified, 
yet  not  entirely  satisfied  reply. 

"Thank  you,"  he  said,  bowing  contritely.  "You  are 
very  generous — as  generous  as  you  are  beautiful,  I  would 
say,  did  I  not  fear  that  my  temerity  might  suffer  re- 
buke. In  the  meantime  my  identity  remains  to  be  es- 
tablished." 


"DO  I  INTRUDE?"  123 

"Permit  me  to  suggest  that  your  temerity  will  be  less 
conspicuous  and  less  liable  to  suffer  rebuke,  if  you  re- 
frain from  irrelevant  observations,"  she  declared,  with 
considerable  asperity. 

"Would  it  not  be  well,  then,  to  definitely  establish  the 
particular  basis  on  which  we  are  supposed  to  stand  at 
the  present  moment?" 

"To  corroborate  my  assertion,  yes — for  no  other  rea- 
son. I  shall  be  very  generous — more  generous  than  you 
deserve — " 

"Ah,  I  knew  it!" 

"I  shall  offer,  say,  three  suggestions,"  she  continued, 
very  frigidly,  "which  may  serve  to  start  your  mental 
machinery  to  working.  Time — about  eighteen  months 
ago.  Place — Colorado.  Scene — harrowing.  Now,  sir." 

"And  if  my  mental  machinery  fails  to  perform  the 
allotted  task?" 

"The  subject  will  then  be  dismissed  for  all  time.  I 
can  but  feel  that  your  recollection  should  not  be  less 
than  mine.  All  this  should  be  very  embarrassing  to 
me,  but  it  is  not — it's  annoying,  pure  and  simple." 

"I  have  no  alternative  but  to  accept  your  conditions. 
Is  there  any  limit  to  the  game — time?" 

"Please  to  remember,  sir,  that  this  is  not  a  game,  but 
a  very  serious  matter.  I  advise  you  to  search  well  the 
hidden  recesses  of  your  memory.  The  tolerance  I  am 
according  you  is  merely  to  justify  my  assertion  that  we 
have  met  before — nothing  more." 

"Thank  you,"  he  softly  murmured,  bowing  his  ap- 
preciation of  the  very  great  consideration  accorded  him. 
"Your  kind  admonition  is  not  lost  upon  me." 

Silence  most  profound  fell  upon  the  scene.     Only  the 


124  MISTER  BILL 

ticking  of  the  little  timepiece  disturbed  the  stillness  of 
the  room  which  seemed  to  grow  deeper  and  more  in- 
tense with  each  swing  of  the  tiny  pendulum.  The  man 
seemed  to  be  in  deep  and  serious  meditation,  once  or 
twice  glancing  up  at  his  companion  from  his  position 
back  of  the  big  easy  chair  over  which  he  was  leaning, 
as  if,  perchance,  to  recall  some  connecting  link  which 
persisted  in  eluding  him.  The  lady  was  serenely  in- 
different, and  apparently  interested  in  anything  and" 
everything  in  the  room  except  the  man,  of  whose  presence 
she  was  entirely  oblivious.  It  was  his  fate  that  was 
hanging  in  the  balance,  and  with  that  she  had  naught 
to  do. 

"Ah,  yes,  I  have  it!"  he  exultantly  exclaimed,  sud- 
denly breaking  the  silence.  "You  were  on  the  train 
stalled  in  the  Grand  Canon — " 

"Cold — very  cold !"  she  icily  interrupted. 

"Burr'r!"  shrugging  his  shoulders.  "Yes,  it  was — 
and  is!" 

"I  did  not  allude  to  the  particular  degree  of  temper- 
ature, sir.  I  merely  meant  that  you  were  wrong — not 
even  on  the  trail.  Is  not  that  a  technical  term  of  your 
profession  that  you  should  recognize?" 

"Quite  true,  indeed.  Positively  stupid  of  me  not  to 
recognize  the  vernacular  of  my  profession." 

No  reply  to  this  remark  was  vouchsafed,  which  ap- 
proached rather  near  the  danger  line  of  facetiousness, 
and  was  hardly  in  keeping  with  the  serious  nature  of  the 
matter  in  hand.  Another  lapse  into  silence. 

Finally,  more  speculatively  than  positively,  he  said, 
"Perhaps  you  were  in  the  Antlers,  at  the  Springs,  when 
it  burned — " 


"DO  I  INTRUDE?"  125 

"Warmer — warmer,  but  still  some  distance  off,"  she 
again  interposed,  with  most  discouraging  indifference. 

"That  is  certainly  a  conservative  estimate.  Now  I 
should  have  said  it  was  hot — hot  as — " 

"Beware,  sir!" 

"It  could  well  be.  However,  that  is  a  mere  matter  of 
opinion." 

"I  have  warned  you,  sir — I  made  no  reference  to  the 
particular  temperature  of  the  incident.  You  are  quite 
hopeless,"  she  told  him  despairingly,  studiously  averting 
her  eyes. 

"I  believe  I  am,  notwithstanding  my  one  remaining 
chance.  Is  there  really  no  hope  of  succor  before  taking 
my  final  plunge?"  he  was  concerned  to  know. 

"Really,  sir,  your  condition  seems  quite  pitiable,  but 
I  fear  that  I  can  do  little  for  you,"  she  felt  constrained 
to  reply,  but  with  considerable  less  severity. 

"I  fear  you  fail  to  appreciate  the  very  great  disad- 
vantage under  which  I  am  laboring.  Verily,  it  is  a  search 
for  the  proverbial  needle  to  discover  myself  in  the  mass 
of  perplexities  in  which  I  have  been  involved  during  the 
past  two  years.  Now  I  would  suggest — " 

"I  do  not  care  to  entertain  any  suggestions  from  you, 
sir,"  she  interposed,  with  difficulty  refraining  from  laugh- 
ing outright,  her  indignation  not  being  proof  against  the 
supreme  good  nature  of  the  man.  "Can  it  be  possible 
that  I  am  really  taxing  your  poor  mentalities  too  severely 
— should  I  be  more  lenient?"  she  said,  regarding  him 
uncertainly,  not  quite  satisfied  that  he  was  deserving  of 
consideration. 

Her  indecision  was  of  short  duration — the  woman 
triumphed. 


CHAPTER  XVI 
A  MAN  WHO  DARED 

SURELY,  sir,  you  cannot  have  forgotten  that  ter- 
rible night  out  in  the  Colorado  mountains,  when 
the  overland  express,  tearing  down  the  moun- 
tain side  in  the  dead  of  night,  plunged  headlong 
into  a  train  of  cattle?  Ah,  surely,  you  must  remember 
that  awful  scene,  far  beyond  the  power  of  words  to  ade- 
quately portray.  Those  poor  people  who  never  knew 
what  fate  befell  them,  yet  far  more  fortunate  than  the 
miserable  creatures  to  whom  death  finally  came  as  a 
grateful  deliverance.  And  those  other  poor  creatures! 
How  piteous  their  long  drawn  cries,  almost  human  in 
their  helpless  appeals ;  how  they  echoed  against  the 
great  mountain  sides  towering  high  above  us — those 
black  terrifying  shadows  of  the  night.  And  the  scene — 
the  whole  wild,  weird,  terrible  scene — lighted  up  by  the 
flames  of  the  burning  cars  relentlessly  consuming  every- 
thing within  their  reach,  and  man  utterly  powerless  to 
stay  their  way." 

"It  was  indeed  terrible,"  he  said,  with  quiet  seri- 
ousness. 

"And  you — you  were  everywhere  present.  Time  after 
time  you  went  into  the  burning  cars,  returning  with 
some  unfortunate  in  your  arms.  Each  time  you  dis- 
appeared into  those  roaring  furnaces — they  were  little  less 

126 


A  MAN  WHO  DARED  127 

— I  held  my  breath,  fearing,  dreading,  lest  you  might 
never  return.  It  seemed  there  must  certainly  be  a  limit 
to  your  strength  if  not  to  your  will.  Not  until  the  cars 
were  entirely  wrapped  in  flames  did  you  desist  from 
your  work  of  rescue,  and  then  you  set  about  making 
the  wounded  comfortable,  working  with  untiring  strength, 
doing  the  right  thing  at  the  right  time,  and  with  always 
a  kind  and  encouraging  word  for  those  in  distress. 

"But,  Oh !  can  death  never  be  so  terrible — so  sacred — 
as  to  inspire  respect  in  living  man?  Suddenly  the  ter- 
rifying and  sickening  cry  of  'robbers'  rang  out.  It  was 
true — the  dead  were  being  robbed !  Immediately  all  was 
commotion  among  the  little  band  of  survivors.  Those 
who  had  retained  a  few  scattered  senses  after  the  first  ter- 
rible shock,  simply  and  completely  lost  them  in  the  pres- 
ence of  this  new  terror.  I  should  not  say  all.  I  caught 
just  a  fleeting  glimpse  of  a  form  I  recognized  disap- 
pearing into  the  little  clump  of  trees  from  whence  the 
cry  arose,  and  almost  immediately  several  shots  rang 
out.  Such  awful  portent  those  shots  seemed  to  echo! 
I  think  my  heart  stopped  beating  for  a  time — the  very 
atmosphere  seemed  charged  with  terror.  I  was  sure  that 
you  had  been  saved  from  the  flames  to  die — Oh!  so 
cruelly,  it  seemed — at  the  hands  of  those  robbers,  and 
you  had  simply  rushed  to  your  death.  An  age  seemed  to 
pass  before  you  emerged  from  the  woods  dragging  two 
despicable  looking  objects  after  you,  and  dropping  them 
on  the  ground  in  the  full  glare  of  the  flames,  warned 
them  that  if  they  attempted  to  escape,  you  would — do  you 
remember  what  you  told  them?"  she  inquired,  pausing 
abruptly,  and  regarding  him  curiously. 


128  MISTER  BILL 

"I  dare  say  an  apology  may  be  in  order — even  at  this 
late  day,"  he  replied,  somewhat  dubiously. 

"I  shall  not  attempt  to  quote  you  literally  for  obvious 
reasons  but  it  is  well  that  you  should  know  what  a 
very  terrible  man  you  can  be  upon  occasion.  You  ex- 
pressed the  opinion  that  a  well  defined  purging  would 
have  a  beneficial  effect  not  only  upon  the  culprits  them- 
selves, but  upon  the  community  at  large,  which  you 
seemed  firmly  convinced  could  best  be  accomplished  by 
reducing  them  to  ashes.  I  think  they  believed  you.  I 
am  sure  I  did,  and  I  hoped,  bad  as  they  were,  and  as 
much  as  I  disliked  their  company,  they  would  not  at- 
tempt to  escape.  We  were  taken  away  by  the  relief 
train  just  before  daylight.  I  made  inquiries  for  you,  as 
I  wished  to  thank  you  for  the  many  little  things  you  had 
done  for  me,  but  you  had  disappeared." 

"What  you  have  said  concerning  my  part  in  the  un- 
fortunate affair  is  in  a  measure  true,  to  be  sure,  yet  you 
are  pleased  to  place  far  too  high  an  estimate  upon  what 
was  the  least  one  could  do  under  such  conditions,"  he 
told  her,  depreciatingly,  after  an  interval  of  silence. 
"There  is  so  little  that  one  is  able  to  accomplish  under 
such  trying  circumstances  he  feels  that  censure,  rather 
than  commendation  should  be  his  portion — the  will  is 
so  great,  the  strength  so  small." 

"Ah,  yes!  I  know  but  too  well.  One  never  seems 
so  utterly  helpless  as  when  a  consciousness  of  the  weak- 
ness of  the  flesh  compared  with  the  strength  of  the  will 
is  forced  upon  one.  A  woman  feels  so  weak  and  help- 
less when  strength  and  courage  are  required — 

"There  is  a  strength  and  courage  that  man  knows 
naught  of,"  he  gently  but  firmly  interposed.  "More  ten- 


A  MAN  WHO  DARED  129 

der  hands  than  mine  were  at  work  that  night  assuaging 
pain  and  thirst,  and  binding  wounds.  Softer  words  than 
mine  gave  courage  to  motherless  children  and  childless 
mothers,  and  strong  men  dazed  and  helpless.  More  lov- 
ing arms  than  mine  pillowed  helpless  heads  and  broken 
forms.  Ah,  yes!  You  were  a  ministering  angel  that 
night,  and  sometimes  I  thought  as  I  saw  you  flitting 
from  one  poor  form  to  another,  performing  countless 
little  offices  that  only  a  woman's  heart  could  prompt,  or 
hand  could  do,  how  much  greater  and  nobler  is  the 
strength  of  her  love ;  how  much  nearer  the  divine  precept 
is  the  spirit  of  her  sweet  ministrations,  than  the  brute 
strength  on  which  men  pride  themselves." 

"And  you — you  really  believe  all  this?"  she  cried,  al- 
most incredulously,  a  suspicious  moistening  in  her  eyes. 

"Every  word,"  he  replied,  with  solemn  conviction. 

"Oh,  that  I  might  believe  it  as  well!  That  I  might 
honestly  believe  myself  worthy  of  such  high  esteem — 
such  manly  appreciation." 

"Then,  too,  your  woman's  wit  came  to  the  rescue 
when  bandages  were  so  sorely  needed,  and  more  than 
one  poor  fellow  has  you  to  thank  for  your  prompt  sac- 
rifice—" 

"I  forbid,  sir;  not  another  syllable!"  she  commanded. 
"You  are  dealing  with  suppositions  entirely  unjustifiable 
at  this  late  day,"  she  declared,  with  an  assumption  of  seri- 
ousness. 

"My  ideas  are  general,  rather  than  specific,  I  must 
admit,  but  sufficient  to  know — " 

"I  fear,  sir,  that  you  are  still  on  dangerous  ground," 
she  again  admonished. 


130  MISTER  BILL 

"Very  well,  we  will  rest  the  case — admitting  the  sac- 
rifice," he  insisted. 

"You  are  convinced,  then,  that  we  have  really  met 
before?" 

"I  never  doubted." 

"And  when,  pray,  did  the  fact  first  dawn  upon  you?" 

"When  you  first  entered  this  room." 

Did  she  hear  aright?  Surprise  and  incredulity  were 
depicted  upon  her  countenance  as  she  silently  regarded 
the  man  before  her.  "Am  I  to  understand,  sir,  that  you 
permitted  me  to  believe  you  did  not  recall  our  previous 
meeting,  yet  you  were  conscious  of  the  fact  from  the 
very  beginning?" 

"Your  expression  is  painfully  plain  and  correct." 

"May  I  ask  you,  sir,  to  be  equally  plain,  and  explain 
your  motives?  Possibly  I  can  be  made  to  see  the  joke. 
I  am  inclined  to  look  upon  the  ridiculous  side  if  one 
exists,  but  in  this  particular  instance  it  seems  somewhat 
obscure,"  she  replied,  with  calm  cynicism,  betokening 
no  good. 

"Indeed,  good  lady,  you  flatter  me.  Tis  no  joke — 
but  a  play — a  bit  of  the  melodrama  at  the  special  re- 
quest of  the  gallery — Queen  of  the  heavens.  You  are 
pleased  to  pay  my  poor  histrionic  abilities  a  high  com- 
pliment indeed." 

Her  features,  as  she  regarded  this  most  excellent 
actor,  slowly  relaxed,  and  moulded  themselves  into  a 
pretty  smile  as  the  ridiculous  nature  of  the  situation  be- 
came more  apparent.  "Well,  of  all — I  am  quite  at  a  loss 
for  the  word  I  require.  And  so  I  carefully  prepared 
a  pitfall  and  deliberately  proceeded  to  throw  myself  into 


A  MAN  WHO  DARED  13! 

it  for  your  amusement,  which  was  very  obliging  of  me, 
was  it  not?" 

"If  the  part  was  not  to  your  liking,  you  must  remem- 
ber that  it  was  not  of  my  choosing,"  he  told  her,  im- 
penitently. 

"None  the  less,  sir,  I  think  you  a  very  bad  actor — 
I  do  not  approve  of  your  style  in  the  least.  I  am  un- 
able to  discover  whether  you  are  simply  poking  fun  at 
me,  or  carrying  a  chip  on  your  shoulder  and  inviting 
me  to  knock  it  off.  Oh,  I  am  not  so  sure!"  replying 
to  a  gesture  of  protest  on  his  part.  "I  have  an  idea  that 
I  recognize  certain  belligerent  tendencies.  If  it  is  the 
former,  I  object — seriously.  If  the  latter,  your  desire 
may  be  gratified  in  a  manner  least  expected,  for  be  it 
known,  I  positively  revel  in  a  pitched  battle  with  an  able- 
bodied  man,  and  I  further  give  you  fair  warning,  quarter 
will  not  be  asked  nor  given.  Now,  sir,  I  consider  my- 
self absolved  from  all  responsibility  of  whatsoever  kind 
or  character." 

Surely,  man,  this  dire  ultimatum  of  relentless  femi- 
ninity is  not  lost  upon  you — you  are  not  brave  unto  rash- 
ness. Will  you  not  gracefully  retire  while  yet  the  way  is 
open  ?  Will  you  persistently  offer  battle  to  one  on  whom 
the  flush  of  victory  rests  so  lightly  that  she  is  audaciously 
aggressive  in  the  very  strength  that  has  never  known 
defeat?  Brave  men  have  sought  and  fought,  only  to 
succumb — men  more  practiced  in  an  art  of  warfare  for 
which  you  are  little  fitted  by  training  and  experience, 
and  perhaps  too  little  proficient  to  make  even  an  interest- 
ing opponent. 

Lives  there  a  man  so  wondrous  wise,  that  he  can  tell 
another  of  the  whys  and  wherefores,  ways  and  means  to 


I32  MISTER  BILL 

pursue,  when  a  woman — a  lovely  woman  leads  the  way? 
And  does  it  really  matter  much,  and  do  the  best  laid 
plans,  or  advice  of  wisest  sage  avail,  when  a  woman — 
a  lovely  woman  would  have  her  way? 

"I  think  you  may  consider  yourself  absolved  from  all 
responsibility,"  he  told  her.  "There  seems  to  be  a  most 
commendable  desire  extant  to  make  me  the  architect  of 
my  own  fortunes — or  misfortunes.  You  are  kind  enough 
to  corroborate  a  previous  warning,  to  which  I  now  incline 
to  believe  I  gave  too  little  heed." 

"Indeed!  And  are  you  still  playing  a  part,  or — your- 
self? And  what,  pray,  were  you  warned  against,  may 
I  ask?" 

"I  was  warned  against  this  same  aggressiveness,  of 
which  you  speak.  That  people — men  in  particular — must 
be  subservient  to  your  will." 

"Go  on,  sir,  if  you  please!  I  trust  you  will  not  per- 
mit a  false  delicacy  to  withhold  any  part  of  this  very 
timely  warning  you  have  received,"  she  told  him,  with 
chilling  cynicism. 

"You  may  not  be  aware  of  the  fact,  but  you  make 
monkeys  of  men — drive  them  with  a  high  hand — ac- 
cording to  my  informant,"  coolly  explained  this  reckless 
wretch. 

"Do  I?  Indeed!  And  what  if  I  do?  Now  I  am 
angry — very,  very  angry,  sir.  So  very  angry  I  am  not 
angry — if  you  can  understand  me — I  am  quite  beyond." 

"Yes,  curious — that  is  the  stage  beyond,"  calmly  re- 
plied the  unscrupulous  man,  evidently  bent  upon  bringing 
about  his  complete  undoing. 

"You  are  right,  sir — I  am  curious.    And  what  more  did 


A  MAN  WHO  DARED  133 

this    friend    of    mine — friend,    I    presume — warn    you 
against  ?" 

"To  be  sure,  a  very  warm  friend,  who  further  advised 
me  to  beware  of  your  irresistible  fascinations — fatal  to 
the  average  man.  That  in  affairs  of  the  heart  you  were 
quite  impossible." 

"Monstrous !  Your  informant  was  Jack,  the  rascal. 
I  recognize  his  handiwork.  He  shall  suffer  a  bad  quarter 
of  an  hour  tomorrow.  And  you — you  listened  to  him. 
Very  gallant,  sir,  indeed ;"  she  told  him,  with  withering 
sarcasm. 

"Yes,  I  confess.    I  did  enter  a  protest  or  two — " 
"Still,  you  were  not  compelled  to  listen." 
"Quite  true.     I  might  have  choked  the  rascal,  which 
I  seriously  contemplated,   but  there   again,   a  difficulty 
presented  itself.     I  should  have  been  gallant,  but  an  ex- 
ceedingly rude  guest — one  may  not  choke  one's  host  with 
impunity.      After   all,    no   harm    has   been    done.     The 
admonition,  I  am  sure,  was  as  unnecessary  as  well  in- 
tended." 

"Your  meaning,  sir,  is  still  somewhat  obscure.  What 
am  I  to  infer  by  'unnecessary'  ?"  she  demanded,  her  curi- 
osity still  greater  than  her  anger. 

"Simply  that  the  young  man  entertained  an  exag- 
gerated idea  of  the  dangers  against  which  he  so  con- 
siderately warned  me,"  was  the  somewhat  ambiguous 
reply. 

"The  conversation,  I  am  free  to  admit,  has  taken 
rather  a  peculiar  trend.  I  must  also  admit  that  I  feel 
at  a  certain  disadvantage ;  but  as  it  all  seems  quite  clear 
to  you  perhaps  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  enlighten 
me — I  am  still  quite  curious,  you  see.  Just  what  do 


134  MISTER  BILL 

you  mean?  Do  you  mean  that  you  concede  me  the 
benefit  of  the  doubt?  Or  do  you  think  me  a  particularly 
disagreeable  and  undesirable  sort  of  person  generally, 
and — well,  to  be  perfectly  frank,  as  you  seem  to  en- 
courage candor — am  I  to  understand  that  you  see  nothing 
in  me  to  commend,  or  to  interest  your  lordship?  Am  I 
quite  clear?" 

"Perfectly  clear,  but  a  trifle  unjust  to  yourself.  I  can 
conceive  much,  not  alone  to  commend,  but  to  interest. 
I  can  also  conceive  of  men  offering  their  hands,  their 
hearts,  their  souls,  their  all,  at  the  shrine  of  their  heart's 
most  fondly  worshiped  idol,  each  craving  with  all  the 
ardor  of  human  desire  that  he  may  be  the  elect  of  his 
fellows.  Obviously  then,  the  happiness  of  the  one  must 
be  the  misery  of  the  many.  Equally  obvious,  and  no 
less  providential,  is  the  fact  that  this  poor  creature  man 
is  of  opposing  minds,  and  while  many  may  strive  for 
a  coveted  possession,  others  are  content  to  stand  aside 
and  watch  the  struggle  from  afar  with  no  greater  inter- 
est than  to  see  the  best  man  win." 

"Really,  sir,  you  are  most  generous !  If  one  must  be 
so  unfortunate  as  to  be  regarded  with  such  utter  and 
complete  indifference  by  even  a  comparative  stranger, 
it  is  at  least  gratifying  to  know  that  one  is  not  neces- 
sarily responsible.  All  this  is  intensely  interesting  and 
edifying.  Do  you  mind  telling  me  the  particular  ideal 
to  which  your  fancy  turns  in  its  untrammeled  flights? 
I  am  merely  curious  to  know  the  peculiar  ideas  of  a 
very  peculiar  man — and  a  very  bold  one,  if  he  would 
know  my  private  opinion." 

The  ominous  clouds  had  passed  away.  Slowly  but 
surely  the  sun's  rays  had  penetrated  the  gathering  dark- 


A  MAN  WHO  DARED  135 

ness  when  thunder  and  lightning  and  deluge  most  dire 
seemed  about  to  descend  upon  him  who  recklessly  braved 
their  fury. 

"I  am  really  at  a  loss  which  to  admire  the  more ;  your 
unqualified  assurance,  or  my  good  nature  in  calmly  sitting 
by  and  permitting  myself  to  be  maligned  at  the  hands 
of  a  reckless  stranger.  I  think,  too,  I  am  somewhat 
surprised  at  myself.  The  experience  is  certainly  novel, 
and  perhaps  for  that  reason  more  interesting  than  might 
be  a  repetition.  Do  you  know,"  she  said,  looking  at 
him  somewhat  curiously,  "I  am  half  inclined  to  believe 
that  you  may  possess  possibilities  useful  to  me — if  you 
are  well  disposed." 

"I  am  amenable  to  any  reasonable  proposition,"  he  re- 
plied, with  becoming  modesty. 

"For  instance,"  she  continued,  disregarding  his  reply, 
"the  advantage  of  knowing  that  a  man  will  not  by  any 
chance  fancy  himself  in  love,  and  declare  himself  at 
odd  and  uncertain  intervals,  is  incalculable.  Such 
little  eccentricities  on  the  part  of  your  sex  are  more 
or  less  embarrassing,  and  creative  of  a  certain  constraint 
according  to  the  ardor  and  frequency  with  which  they 
occur.  One  is  thus  relieved  of  many  responsibilities  and 
— Oh !  I  can  think  of  advantages  too  numerous  to  men- 
tion." 

"We  are  sure  to  get  on,  if  all  your  requirements  are 
equally  simple,"  he  gravely  assured  her. 

"The  idea  is  charming — positively  alluring  in  the 
mere  contemplation,"  she  declared,  but  whether  sincere, 
or  merely  facetiously  cynical,  was  not  quite  clear.  "To 
begin  with,  I  have  a  very  unruly  horse.  He  has  be- 
haved very  badly,  and  has  disgraced  himself  generally 


136  MISTER  BILL 

in  the  estimation  of  several  of  my  friends — he  is  also 
quite  beyond  my  groom.  I  assume  that  you  are  an  ex- 
pert in  the  management  of  horses,  and  I  shall  expect  you 
to  immediately  take  him  in  hand  and  exert  your  influence 
over  his  fractious  spirits.  I  have  discovered  that  the 
man  possesses  a  similar  spirit,  and  I  shall  closely  ob- 
serve his  methods  in  dealing  with  the  beast,  and  perhaps 
apply  them  to  the  man  himself,  if  he  behaves  so  badly 
again — beware,  sir!" 

"I  trust  there  will  be  no  occasion  for  extreme  meas- 
ures— with  man  or  beast,"  he  replied,  with  due  gravity. 

"Then  it  is  quite  understood — we  are  to  be  friends? 
Very  well,  there's  my  hand — as  you  men  say,"  rising 
and  offering  him  her  hand  and  a  very  gracious  smile  as 
well.  "Friends,  then — good-night." 

And  so  it  was  that  this  man  and  this  woman  met 
once  upon  a  time  out  in  that  wild  country  under  cir- 
cumstances which  try  men's  souls.  Each  had  uncon- 
sciously shown  the  other  a  depth  and  strength  of  char- 
acter, a  love  and  sympathy  for  their  fellows  of  no  com- 
mon order,  and  after  a  lapse  of  time  had  been  brought 
together  by  chance  or  some  strangely  ordered  plan.  What 
was  the -portent?  Were  they  mere  creatures  of  circum- 
stances— or  were  they  moulding  life's  plastic  forces  in 
the  strength  and  fullness  of  their  own  divine  endow- 
ments? Who  shall  say? 


CHAPTER  XVII 
"LOVE,  INDEED!" 

THE  family  and  its  guests  attended  services  next 
morning  in  the  little  church  not  far  distant,  as 
had  been  the  custom  of  father  and  mother  even 
before  the  memorable  day  when  they  had  been 
joined  in  holy  wedlock  beneath  the  old  roof.     Pastors 
had  come  and  gone ;  some  called  to  positions  of  greater 
responsibility;    others,    they    knew    not    whither.     New 
churches  and  new  creeds  had  come  one  after  another,  but 
the  little  family  continued  to  worship  in  the  ivy-covered 
little  pile,  sacred  to  the  memories  of  the  past. 

Cathalee  was  no  less  loyal  to  the  little  house  of  worship, 
and  not  a  few  were  the  trips  she  made  from  the  city  for 
no  other  purpose  than  to  attend  the  simple  service,  in 
which  she  seemed  to  find  a  distinct  pleasure  and  satis- 
faction. She  had  declared  upon  one  occasion,  in  answer 
to  a  query  propounded  by  a  friend  who  marveled  at  this, 
to  her,  unaccountable  eccentricity,  that  she  felt  a  sense 
of  peace  and  repose  within  the  walls  of  the  little  church 
that  she  had  never  experienced  in  the  more  imposing 
edifice  in  the  city  in  which  she  was  wont  to  worship.  She 
liked  the  simple  and  sincere  sermons ;  she  dearly  loved 
to  look  out  on  the  green  fields  and  waving  branches,  and 
breathe  the  sweet  perfumes  wafted  in  through  the  open 
windows.  "And  when,"  she  added,  with  characteristic 

137 


138  MISTER  BILL 

enthusiasm,  "the  joyous  voices  of  the  little  feathered 
songsters  mingle  with  the  gladsome  songs  of  man  in  one 
long  sweet  refrain,  all  nature  seems  to  be  lifting  up  its 
voice  and  pouring  out  its  heart  in  glad  rejoicing.  Is  it 
not  glorious,  is  it  not  sublime,"  her  enthusiasm  increasing, 
"to  think — just  to  think — if  we  only  knew  ourselves  bet- 
ter, or  if  the  great  laws  of  our  being  could  be  made 
clear  to  us,  we  might  always  be  happy  and  content,  and 
dwell  in  the  paradise  of  which  we  catch  such  a  little 
glimpse  when  our  souls  are  en  rapport,  and  our  voices 
attuned  to  nature's  chords  ?  Ah !  but  it  is  unfortunate  we 
know  ourselves  so  little.  Are  we  wilfully  ignorant,  or  is 
it  such  a  great  problem  that  we  cannot  understand,  and 
are  we  never  to  know  ?"  She  might  be  old-fashioned,  she 
admitted,  when  further  pressed,  but  she  preferred  her 
religion  distinct  from  a  social  function.  Yes,  she 
further  admitted,  it  was  doubtless  her  misfortune  that 
she  was  not  able  to  reconcile  the  two,  but  such  being 
the  case,  she  was  compelled  to  choose  methods  and 
means  adapted  to  her  limited  mentality — depraved,  per- 
haps— but  really,  what  could  be  expected  of  a  poor  mortal 
so  afflicted. 

"Why,  Jack,  where  is  Edith?"  inquired  Mrs.  Winston, 
as  the  little  party  was  about  setting  out  for  church. 

"She  has  been  trying  for  an  hour  or  more  to  arrange 
her  hair  like  Cathalee's.  I  offered  to  assist  her,  but 
she—" 

"Declined  your  valuable  services,"  Maude  supplied. 

"Good  guess!  She  pushed  me  out,  locked  the  door, 
and  declared  it  was  bad  enough  to  be  a  girl  without 
having  a  nuisance  of  a  brother.  Poor  sis!  She  is  cer- 
tainly in  hard  luck." 


LOVE,  INDEED  139 

"As  I  am  the  recipient  of  such  a  pretty  compliment,  it 
behooves  me  to  see  that  I  am  correctly  interpreted," 
laughed  Cathalee,  running  lightly  up  the  stairs. 

"Mine  enemy !"  laughed  Jack,  looking  after  her  in  un- 
disguised admiration.  "She  is  not  on  speaking  terms 
with  me,"  he  said,  addressing  Waldron.  "Says  I  have 
irredeemably  distinguished  myself  this  time.  You  be- 
haved very  badly  last  evening,  sir,  but  it  was  all  my 
fault,  it  seems.  What  do  you  think  of  that  for  logic?" 

"A  woman's  logic  is  not  limited  by  man's  understand- 
ing," that  gentleman  briefly  observed. 

"She  says  that  between  us  both,  we  don't  leave  a  poor 
woman  a  shred  of  reputation.  I  felt  positively  undone 
when  she  had  finished  with  me." 

Jack's  remarks  were  cut  short  by  the  return  of  the  sub- 
ject thereof  accompanied  by  Edith,  the  unruly  locks 
under  control,  and  a  very  pretty  and  blushing  apology 
made  for  keeping  the  party  waiting. 

"I  fancy  this  is  quite  an  unexpected  pleasure  for  Mr. 
Waldron,"  said  Cathalee,  as  a  start  was  finally  made, 
"but  it  is  a  penance  we  exact  impartially  from  all  our 
friends,  and  I  am  sufficiently  depraved  to  feel  a  brutal 
satisfaction  when  I  have  been  the  means  of  dragging  a 
poor  man  off  to  church  against  his  will.  Oh,  yes !  It  is 
quite  true!"  she  insisted,  pausing  to  note  the  effect  of 
this  dire  confession.  "You  men!"  shaking  her  pretty 
head,  "are  beyond  redemption  at  mortal  hands,  I  fear — 
you  can  only  be  tormented  occasionally  when  you  are 
caught  unawares." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  services  she  informed  him 
that  he  had  behaved  very  well,  but  was  beyond  all  doubt 
a  self-confessed  martyr.  He  was  so  very  grave  that  she 


140  MISTER  BILL 

was  prompted  to  inscribe  an  epitaph  to  his  lately  departed 
thoughts,  the  gravity  of  which  impeachment  he  made  no 
attempt  to  deny. 

The  little  family  bereft  of  its  father  and  stronger 
guardian,  earnestly  and  reverently  offering  its  simple 
devotion  to  the  great  Ruler,  and  asking  for  strength  and 
guidance;  the  sweet  little  face  at  his  side  blushing  with 
maidenly  modesty  when  bright  eyes  met  his ;  the  daintily 
gloved  little  hands  flying  over  the  leaves,  and  finding 
hymns  and  passages  almost  before  the  preacher's  voice 
had  died -away ;  the  little  voice  blending  its  plaintive  sweet- 
ness with  the  many,  and  reverently  repeating  the  hum- 
ble petition  as  the  little  head  was  bowed  in  prayer,  all 
tended  to  make  him  serious.  And  perchance  his  thoughts 
strayed  away  to  that  far  country — to  his  own  life  among 
scenes  and  people  so  vastly  different,  yet  children  of  the 
one  great  family ;  to  life  in  the  great  city — its  multitude 
of  complexities ;  to  life — the  great  problem.  Perhaps, 
too,  his  thoughts  took  him  in  their  winged  flight  back  to 
the  days  even  more  remote  when  he,  the  only  child  of 
loving  parents,  bowed  his  head,  and  breathed  the  same 
enduring  words  of  hope  and  supplication — those  days  of 
childhood's  happy  hours  when  he  was  privileged  the  sweet 
companionship  and  solace  of  a  mother's  love,  and  a 
father's  wisdom  and  guidance.  But  what  had  been  his 
life  since  those  days  long  past  ?  How  little  had  parental 
prayers  and  plans  availed  against  a  higher  power.  What 
destiny  was  this  same  immutable  law  preparing  for  the 
sweet  young  soul  at  his  side?  Would  her  life  be  em- 
bittered by  the  sin  and  wretchedness  of  the  great  world? 
Would  she  soon  be  drawn  into  the  turmoil  from  which 
her  young  life  had  been  shielded,  and  of  which  she  was 


LOVE,  INDEED  141 

blissfully  unconscious?  Or  would  she  blossom  into  the 
fruition  of  her  womanhood,  protected  and  guarded  by  the 
strength  of  him  into  whose  keeping  she  gave  her  life? 
God  grant  it  might  be!  God  grant  that  the  mother's 
prayers  for  her  children  be  not  without  avail ! 

The  first  impressions  of  the  young  miss  concerning  the 
stranger  were  seemingly  justified  by  further  acquaintance, 
and  they  were  soon  on  terms  of  good  comradeship.  He 
was  early  made  acquainted  with  her  pets — a  particular 
mark  of  esteem  and  confidence.  Her  dog — the  greatest 
of  his  kind  in  the  estimation  of  his  mistress — wagged 
approval  of  the  big  stranger  of  kindly  voice  who  talked 
to  him  familiarly,  and  appreciated  his  fine  points.  Old 
Dick  blinked  approval  of  his  biography  as  set  forth  by 
his  little  mistress — no  equine  could  quite  compare  with 
Dick.  Her  garden  plots,  favorite  nooks  and  corners  in- 
doors and  out  were  duly  explored,  and  the  man  uncon- 
sciously made  possessor  of  many  an  innocent  thought  and 
girlish  confidence — indeed,  it  seemed  never  to  occur  to  the 
little  miss  that  she  might  not  repose  the  most  implicit 
confidence  in  her  new  friend. 

If  he  had  thought  to  receive  all  this  attention  without 
giving  value  received,  he  was  quickly  undeceived.  All 
unconsciously  was  he  led  into  one  of  the  cosy  corners 
of  his  little  hostess,  a  comfortable  place  made  for  him, 
and  a  running  fire  of  questions  suddenly  flung  at  him 
which  only  the  curiosity  of  youthful  enthusiasm  could 
suggest. 

Nor  was  the  little  miss  the  only  one  impelled  to  interest 
herself  in  his  behalf.  A  certain  other  friend  seemed  to 
find  a  keen  delight  in  covert  flings  and  innuendos  when- 
ever opportunity  presented.  Perhaps  in  retaliation  for 


142  MISTER  BILL 

the  questionable  treatment  received  at  his  hands  the  night 
before ;  he  should  be  made  to  pay  dearly  for  his  temerity, 
and  his  office  of  friend  to  her  majesty,  the  fair  Cathalee, 
might  not  prove  to  be  the  sinecure  he  seemed  to  anticipate. 
However,  there  was  no  outward  evidence  that  a  vulner- 
able spot  had  been  reached.  On  the  contrary,  he  received 
the  winged  shafts  with  the  most  exasperating  indiffer- 
ence and  good  nature.  Perhaps  he  considered  turn  about 
fair  play,  and  was  entirely  willing  that  the  other  side 
should  have  a  fling.  Perhaps,  again,  he  merely  bided  his 
time  when  he  might  catch  his  charming  tormentor  off  her 
guard,  and  with  one  fell  swoop  put  to  rout  the  arch 
enemy  persistently  preying  upon  his  good  nature.  Many 
things  come  to  him  who  waits — and  to  her  as  well. 

"Still  in  the  land  of  dreams  ?"  she  queried,  pausing  on 
the  landing,  and  contemplating  the  man  of  thoughtful 
mien,  who  chanced  at  that  moment  to  be  alone  in  the  liv- 
ing-room, "Not  a  penny  for  your  thoughts,  but  your 
thoughts  gratis.  Surely  none  but  a  lover  could  gaze  so 
far  away  into  nothingness  and  find  so  much  to  interest 
him." 

"Man  is  ever  at  a  disadvantage  with  your  sex.  Even 
his  innermost  thoughts  are  not  sacred  from  intrusion,  but 
must  be  laid  bare  at  the  passing  fancy  of  the  first  fair 
creature  who  chances  to  interest  herself  in  his  behalf," 
he  replied,  with  complacent  resignation. 

"Now  that  I  have  discovered  your  secret  you  must 
take  me  intb  your  confidence.  Now  don't  tell  me  that  I 
am  entirely  wrong — I  simply  refuse  to  have  my  divina- 
tions ruthlessly  upset.  Besides,  you  have  already  com- 
mitted yourself — tacitly  admitted  that  you  are  a  slave  to 


LOVE,  INDEED  143 

the  divine  passion,"  she  insisted,  with  laughing  good 
nature. 

"Strange  to  say,  I  don't  know,"  he  said,  somewhat 
doubtfully.  "Sometimes  I  think  I  may  have  experienced 
the  great  passion ;  again  I  am  not  so  sure." 

"How  very  interesting!  Give  me  your  symptoms,  sir, 
and  I  will  very  quickly  set  your  mind  at  rest  as  to 
whether  you  are  suffering  from  an  acute  attack,  or  from 
a  counterfeit  presentment." 

"You  are  most  kind  to  interest  yourself  in  my  poor  love 
affairs;  yet  perhaps  you  may  be  able  to  assist  me  very 
appreciably — a  woman's  insight  is  so  much  deeper  than 
a  man's." 

"That  you  are  willing  to  confide  in  me  is  a  compli- 
ment in  itself,  and  in  return  for  your  confidence,  I  shall 
be  very  interested,  and  render  my  very  best  judgment. 
I  shall  remain  right  here  where  I  calmly  sat  last  evening 
and  permitted  myself  to  be  assailed  and  reviled  by  a 
comparative  stranger.  Aren't  you  ashamed  of  yourself 
to-day,  sir?  I  have  since  wondered  how  I  came  to  put 
up  with  your  insolence.  But  that  is  another  story.  We 
are  friends  now,  and  you  have  a  very  interesting  story 
to  tell  me,  I  am  sure." 

"I  believe  the  story  is  not  without  a  certain  element 
of  interest,"  he  modestly  admitted. 

"You  must  tell  me  everything — reserving  nothing. 
The  whole  truth  to  your  doctor,  lawyer  and — love's  con- 
fessor," she  stipulated.  "Please  begin  at  once — I  am  all 
impatience." 

"It  is  not  a  long  story — I  shall  trespass  but  little  upon 
your  good  nature.  It  all  happened  in  Chicago — in  a  very 
brief  interval,  I  may  say.  One  late  afternoon,  some  six 


144  MISTER  BILL 

months  ago,  I  chanced  to  be  passing  along  Randolph 
Street,  between  State  and  Wabash — I  mention  these  little 
details,  not  because  they  have  a  direct  bearing  upon  the 
vital  point  in  question,  but  merely  to  localize  the  incident. 
My  mind,  as  I  well  remember,  was  busily  engaged  with 
matters  of  serious  import,  and  my  eyes,  as  not  infre- 
quently happens  when  my  mind  is  thus  employed,  were 
directed  downwards.  Suddenly,  without  volition  of  my 
own,  I  could  almost  swear,  I  raised  my  eyes  and  looked 
directly  into  those  of  a  lady  who  chanced  to  be  passing  at 
that  instant." 

"How  very  interesting!"  exclaimed  the  fair  confessor. 
"Please  go  on  quickly — I  can  see  possibilities." 

"She  was  a  beautiful  creature !"  he  continued,  with  pro- 
found emphasis.  "I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  her — 
mere  words  are  inadequate  to  portray  such  loveliness 
as  met  my  eyes." 

"How  beautiful  she  must  have  been !"  she  unconscious- 
ly exclaimed.  "Was  she  tall  and  fair,  or — I  want  to 
know  more  about  her !"  she  protested. 

"I  think  that  the  instant  our  eyes  met,"  he  continued, 
ignoring  her  protest,  "I  stopped  short  and,  I  dare  say, 
gave  other  outward  evidence  of  the  tumult  raging  within 
me.  That  this  was  not  our  first  meeting — that  I  had 
known  her  at  some  remote  period  of  my  existence  was  the 
strange  freak  my  fancy  played  me.  The  sensation  of 
ecstatic  bliss  that  accompanied  this  unaccountable  fancy 
is  beyond  my  power  to  describe.  Was  it  a  soul  recogni- 
tion? Was  it  merely  a  chance  happening?  Or  was  it 
only  fancy  on  my  part?  What  was  it — that  was  the 
vexed  question.  No  especial  hypothesis  seemed  strug- 
gling for  recognition.  My  subjective  consciousness  evi- 


LOVE,  INDEED  145 

dently  deemed  it  unnecessary  or  inexpedient  to  enlighten 
my  grosser  self." 

"What  happened  then?"  she  demanded,  with  eager  in- 
terest. "Please  do  not  stop  at  such  a  very  interesting 
situation." 

"When  I  finally  recovered  my  presence  of  mind,  she 
had  passed.  I  turned,  but  she  had  disappeared  in  the 
crowd.  The  glance,  short  as  it  was,  had  enabled  me  to 
take  a  mental  photograph  of  that  fair  face,  and  which- 
ever way  I  turned,  the  same  beautiful  vision  confronted 
me." 

"You  turned  and  followed?"  she  demanded,  with 
breathless  interest.  "You  followed  her — " 

"No,  not  at  all,"  he  coolly  replied,  comfortably  dispos- 
ing of  himself  in  the  easy  chair. 

"Ah,  I  understand!  You  met  her  afterwards — be- 
came acquainted,  and — well,  matters  are  not  progressing 
to  your  satisfaction.  Am  I  right?" 

"Cold— very  cold." 

"There  now,  sir,  I  do  seriously  object !"  she  vigorously 
protested.  "That  is  past.  I  have  forgiven  you,  and  the 
least  you  can  do  is  to  refrain  from  poking  fun  at  me — 
which  is  particularly  unkind  at  the  present  moment." 

"Your  pardon.  I  have  no  more  wish  to  offend,  than 
I  am  ungrateful  for  your  very  kind  offices  in  my  behalf," 
he  replied,  with  deep  humility. 

"I  fear  I  cannot  hope  to  suggest  the  outcome  of  the 
incident ;  besides,  I  am  not  to  guess — you  are  to  tell  me, 
and  I  am  to  render  judgment,  you  know." 

"My  understanding,  exactly.  The  evidence  is  quite 
complete.  The  case  now  rests  with  the  court.  The  point 
at  issue  is :  Did  the  individual  in  question,  to  the  best  of 


146  MISTER  BILL 

the  knowledge  and  belief  of  said  court,  in  that  one  brief 
instant  experience  the  great  and  divine  passion — the 
highest  and  noblest — the  great  desideratum  of  human  life 
—said  to  be?" 

"Well,  of  all  ridiculous  nonsense,  I  have  never  heard 
the  equal!"  exclaimed  the  surprised  and  indignant  court, 
starting  to  its  feet,  "except  my  own  in  sitting  calmly  by 
and  helping  to  ridicule  myself.  As  for  your  love  affair, 
you  simply  mistook  the  seat  of  your  ailment — you  should 
have  tried  a  tonic.  That  is  the  opinion  of  the  court  to 
which  you  are  entirely  welcome,"  and  the  outraged  court 
swept  majestically  up  the  stairs,  leaving  the  cause  of  its 
abrupt  adjournment  to  continue  his  meditations  undis- 
turbed. 

Her  indignation,  however,  was  not  of  long  duration, 
and  when  she  appeared  at  tea  a  little  later,  she  was  once 
more  in  full  possession  of  her  good  nature.  Moreover, 
she  frankly  informed  the  family  of  the  manner  in  which 
a  certain  lady  of  worldly  experience  had  been  ruthlessly 
duped — a  perfect  brick  swindling  scheme,  she  declared — 
by  a  certain  mild-mannered  man  from  the  West;  and 
casting  an  arch  glance  at  the  individual  in  question,  she 
expressed  the  firm  conviction  that  in  the  future  that  par- 
ticular lady  would  not  be  so  fast  to  interest  herself  in  the 
love  affairs  of  another — love,  indeed ! 


1 


CHAPTER  XVIII 
A  FRIEND  IN  NEED  AND  DEED 

TRUE  to  his  promise,  Waldron  kept  his  young 
friend  in  sight,  and  in  various  ways  encouraged 
an  intimacy  which  could  not  result  other  than 
to  the  advantage  of  the  younger  man.  In  this 
closer  acquaintance  the  young  man  came  to  understand 
and  appreciate  more,  and  more  the  character  of  the  man 
with  whom  he  had  so  strangely  become  associated.  Al- 
most immediately  he  became  conscious  of  a  new  element 
of  strength  in  his  life.  He  seemed  to  have  suddenly 
acquired  a  new  process  of  reasoning  which  at  times  waged 
bitter  conflict  with  many  of  his  preconceived  and  deeply 
rooted  ideas.  The  more  serious  and  complex  problems 
of  his  life  which  he  had  been  wont  to  regard  almost  as  a 
divine  decree  directed  against  his  individual  well-being, 
gradually  assumed  a  less  portentous  aspect  in  the  light 
of  his  new  strength  and  understanding,  while  the  count- 
less petty  annoyances,  ever  a  menace  to  his  peace  of  mind, 
his  hopes  and  aspirations,  he  soon  discovered  were  but 
the  creatures  of  his  fancy — a  weak  spot  in  his  undeveloped 
character — and  entitled  to  serious  consideration  only  as 
they  were  permitted  to  obtrude  themselves  into  his  life. 
In  short,  he  was  slowly  and  surely  made  to  realize  that  he 
was  something  more  than  a  mere  creature  of  circum- 
stance; that  he  possessed  possibilities  and  attributes  in 

147 


148  MISTER  BILL 

common  with  the  greatest  as  well  as  the  lowliest  of  his 
fellows,  which  required  only  an  opportunity  for  a  free  and 
natural  expression  to  expand  and  develop  into  the  fullness 
of  their  power  and  purpose — an  innate  strength  to  be 
made  subservient  to  his  will — his  servant  rather  than  his 
master. 

"What  particular  burden  is  weighing  upon  your  mind 
to-night?"  inquired  Waldron,  quickly  discerning  that 
something  was  amiss  with  the  young  man,  when  he  ap- 
peared at  his  hotel  one  evening  quite  unexpectedly. 

"I  am  simply  ashamed  to  tell  you.  You  will  certainly 
think  me  a  hoodoo — I  believe  I  am." 

"I  am  a  first-class  antidote  for  hoodoos,"  laughed 
Waldron.  "Fire  away  while  I  add  a  few  deft  touches  to 
my  evening  toilet." 

"It  seems  that  my  father  was  interested  in  a  wildcat 
railroad  somewhere  out  West,"  said  Jack,  finally.  "For 
some  reason  which  I  do  not  quite  understand,  it  became 
necessary  to  give  Mr.  Burrows — of  the  old  brokerage 
firm  of  Burrows  &  Company — a  mortgage  on  our  home 
for  a  temporary  loan  of  ten  thousand  dollars  until  my 
father  could  realize  on  his  stock  of  twenty-five  hundred 
shares,  which  it  seems  Mr.  Burrows  also  retained,  as  he 
was  managing  the  whole  affair.  My  mother  knows  little 
or  nothing  concerning  business,  and  her  recollection  of 
the  transaction  is  not  very  clear.  Mr.  Burrows  now  very 
considerately  explains  that  he  has  not  mentioned  the  mat- 
ter since  my  father's  death  as  he  had  no  wish  to  cause  my 
mother  needless  annoyance — that  would  have  been  my 
father's  wish,  which  he  was  bound  to  respect.  More- 
over, he  never  dreamed  but  that  the  enterprise  would 
ultimately  be  brought  to  a  successful  issue,  when  he  would 


A  FRIEND  IN  NEED  AND  DEED         149 

have  enjoyed  the  profound  pleasure  and  satisfaction  of 
handing  the  wife  of  his  old  and  esteemed  friend  a  very 
substantial  balance,  after  deducting  the  amount  of  the 
loan.  But  alas,  for  human  hopes  and  plans!  Mightier 
forces  have  decreed  the  futility  of  their  efforts,  and  much 
against  their  will,  they  have  been  compelled  to  abandon 
their  last  hope,  and  to  admit  the  enterprise  a  failure. 
Those  are  not  precisely  his  words,  but  substantially  the 
same.  He  sends  my  mother  the  twenty-five  hundred 
shares  as  a  sort  of  mute  evidence  of  his  veracity  and 
laudable  intentions,  I  presume,  and  plainly  indicates  his 
preference  for  the  ten  thousand  dollars  to  the  worthless 
stock." 

"Which  shows  him  to  be  a  man  of  fine  discretion," 
Waldron  quietly  observed,  as  he  drew  the  ends  of  a  re- 
fractory tie  into  place.  "Had  the  stock  developed  even 
small  value,"  he  continued,  "Mr.  Burrows  would  have 
held  security  several  times  the  amount  of  the  mortgage, 
in  addition  to  the  mortgage.  Not  a  bad  proposition  for 
Mr.  Burrows,  seemingly ;  yet  the  fact  that  it  did  not  so 
develop  suggests  that  his  caution  was  not  altogether  ill 
advised.  Seems  rather  a  late  day,  however,  to  inform 
your  mother  of  the  state  of  affairs.  Suggests  the  possi- 
bility, to  say  the  least,  that  she  was  bound  to  lose  which- 
ever way  the  wheel  of  fortune  turned — too  fine  a  point, 
however,  to  embarrass  Mr.  Burrows,  if  I  know  the  man — 
and  I  think  I  do,"  he  added,  with  suggestive  emphasis. 

"To  show  that  he  is  not  altogether  devoid  of  fine  feel- 
ings, he  tells  my  mother  that  a  certain  gentleman  is  will- 
ing to  take  the  mortgage  off  his  hands  at  a  discount,  but 
he  prefers  to  arrange  the  matter  himself,  especially,  I 
presume,  if  he  can  secure  the  full  amount.  But  there 


150  MISTER  BILL 

is  a  well  defined  suggestion  that  if  immediate  settlement 
is  not  arranged,  such  a  possibility  must  be  reckoned  with." 

"And  your  mother  ?" 

"She  thinks  she  must  give  up  the  place  immediately; 
she  cannot  contemplate  the  thought  of  owing  anyone  a 
penny  rightfully  belonging  to  him.  The  place  will  hardly 
bring  that  amount  at  forced  sale,  although  before  long  it 
will  be  worth  a  great  deal  more,  as  the  long  anticipated 
improvements  in  the  town  are  under  way.  No  doubt  the 
man  that  is  willing  to  relieve  Mr.  Burrows  of  the  mort- 
gage, sees  his  way  clear  to  a  good  investment.  Gee !  I 
wonder  if  Mr.  Chadeller  is  the  man  and  if  that  was  what 
he  meant  that  night  when  he  washed  his  hands  of  me. 
You  know,  he  deals  in  notes  and  mortgages,  and  handles 
considerable  business  for  Burrows  &  Company  not  exactly 
in  their  line.  He  has  been  picking  up  considerable  prop- 
erty down  there  recently.  Yes,  that's  the  combination, 
as  I'm  alive !" 

"Where  is  this  railroad — the  cause  of  all  the  trouble?" 
inquired  Waldron,  paying  little  heed  to  the  excited  specu- 
lations of  the  young  man. 

"Oh,  New  Mexico,  I  believe!  Seems  to  have  been 
sort  of  a  private  enterprise — branch  from  the  main  line 
running  up  into  the  mining  camps  in  the  mountains.  I 
did  not  take  particular  notice,  but  the  certificates  are  so 
gorgeously  gotten  up  that  they  made  something  of  an 
impression  on  my  mind.  One  scene  shows  a  train  of  cars 
running  through  a  beautiful  valley,  grazing  herds  as  far 
as  the  eye  can  reach.  Another  depicts  a  scene  up  in  the 
mountains  where  all  hands  appear  to  be  digging  up  golden 
nuggets,  and  seemingly  possessed  of  a  wild  desire  to  call 
the  whole  crowd  up  to  this  golden  Mecca  where  gold  and 


A  FRIEND  IN  NEED  AND  DEED         151 

joy  are  free  as  air,"  explained  the  young-  man,  whose 
opinion  of  Western  enterprise  was  not  flattering. 

"What  is  the  name  of  this  railroad,  or  were  you  lost 
to  all  save  admiration  for  its  stock  certificates?"  inquired 
Waldron,  mildly  amused  at  this  malignant  outburst 
against  the  country  of  his  adoption. 

"The  N.  M.  C. — New  Mexico  Consolidated,  I  believe. 
If  you  attempted  to  locate  it,  you  would  probably  find 
that  it  began  in  the  minds  of  its  promoters  and  ended  in 
a  squirrel  trail  up  a  tree  over  yonder — or  thereabouts," 
replied  the  young  man,  with  ill-concealed  disgust. 

"You  are  not  altogether  right,  nor  wholly  wrong,  in 
your  general  supposition,"  said  Waldron,  after  a  while. 
"This  Golden  Mecca  to  which  you  refer  is  the  Arapahoe 
mining  district  of  New  Mexico,  and  it  may  surprise  you 
to  know  that  this  railroad  of  yours  of  such  vague  begin- 
ning and  uncertain  ending,  is  the  outlet  of  this  same 
district." 

"You  don't  say  so!"  exclaimed  the  youth,  in  breath- 
less amazement. 

"And  what  is  more,"  Waldron  continued,  "in  my  hum- 
ble opinion,  your  friend  Mr.  Burrows  is  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  a  select  band  of  stock-jobbers  whose  opera- 
tions in  Consolidated  Properties  and  other  stocks  have 
become  so  notorious." 

"I  know — everybody  knows.  They  have  certainly 
played  their  game  to  the  limit." 

"My  business  here  is  to  take  a  hand  in  this  particular 
game  so  far  as  it  relates  to  Consolidated  Properties,  as  I 
chance  to  be  interested  in  these  same  Properties." 

"You!"  cried  Jack,  in  deeper  amazement.  "And  are 
you  making  the  fight  alone  ?" 


152  MISTER  BILL 

"I  am  playing  practically  a  lone  hand.  For  the  pres- 
ent, I  am  not  in  evidence.  My  brokers  are  quietly  pick- 
ing up  all  the  loose  stock  in  sight,  not  working  the  least 
aggressively,  however,  as  I  do  not  wish  to  create  the 
suspicion  that  the  stock  is  being  cornered.  I  have  been 
using  my  best  efforts  to  point  out  as  unobtrusively  as 
possible  the  particular  course  I  would  have  the  opposing 
forces  pursue,  and  thus  far  they  have  shown  a  fairly 
commendable  inclination  to  comply  with  my  desires.  For 
instance:  Several  times  during  the  past  two  or  three 
weeks  I  have  started  small  upward  movements  in  the 
stock,  quietly  taking  on  all  that  was  offered  at  certain 
figures — I  am  not  prepared  to  show  my  hand  and  go  out 
gunning  for  the  large  blocks.  A  few  days  ago  I  put  the 
mills  on  half  time,  and  started  a  brisk  upward  turn. 
They  immediately  discovered  through  sources  of  their 
own  that  the  mills  were  running  short,  and  very  properly 
jumped  at  the  conclusion  that  lack  of  ore  must  be  the 
cause,  and  sold  quite  briskly,  well  satisfied  that  the  flurry 
was  not  justified  by  actual  conditions  at  the  mines,  which 
would  have  caused  a  contrary  movement.  After  gather- 
ing in  a  goodly  quantity  of  the  stock,  I  stopped  the 
upward  tendency,  thinking  it  advisable  to  give  them  the 
impression  that  they  still  controlled  the  market.  It  is 
their  purpose  to  keep  the  stock  down  and  the  public  out 
until  they  secure  control  of  the  Properties ;  mine,  to  put 
the  stock  up  and  bring  the  public  in.  In  the  final  reckon- 
ing I  hope  to  catch  them  heavily  short  of  the  stock — the 
trap  is  baited  with  the  same  innocent  appearing  lambs 
they  have  so  often  sheared." 

"If  it  is  really  Mr.  Burrows  that  you  have  to  fight,  I 
don't  envy  you.  You  will  simply  be  drawn  and  quar- 


A  FRIEND  IN  NEED  AND  DEED         153 

tered  if  you  fall  into  his  power,"  Jack  declared,  with 
great  emphasis. 

"As  for  Mr.  Burrows,"  continued  Waldron,  ignoring 
the  fearsome  concern  of  his  young  friend,  "he  sacrificed 
his  railroad  and  its  original  owners  to  his  stock-jobbing 
operations,  for  with  all  his  cunning  he  could  never  make 
it  a  success  while  the  mines  were  abused — it  became  hope- 
lessly bankrupt.  He  secured  his  commissions  and  thou- 
sands of  shares  of  stock  bonus  for  promoting  it,  and  has 
never  stood  to  lose  a  dollar  of  his  own  money,  if  the 
truth  were  known,  and  the  ten  thousand  dollars  he  would 
exact  from  your  mother  is  a  little  easy  money  in  lieu  of 
what  he  had  hoped  the  stock  might  eventually  net  him." 

"I  hope  you  will  win — many  times  I  hope  it,"  cried 
Jack,  impulsively.  "But  it  will  be  a  fight  with  the  odds 
against  you.  You  are  practically  single  handed  against 
a  crowd  of  old  hands  at  the  game  who  know  every  trick 
that  can  be  turned — a  crowd  that  will  deal  you  a  hand  or 
two  under  the  table  if  necessary.  You  do  not  fear  them  ?" 
he  paused  to  inquire,  suddenly  discovering  that  Waldron, 
who  was  pacing  slowly  back  and  forth,  was  not  giving 
his  remarks  serious  attention. 

"No,"  said  Waldron,  after  a  silence  so  long  that  Jack 
had  concluded  his  query  had  not  been  heeded.  "No," 
he  repeated,  pausing  in  his  walk  and  looking  absently  out 
of  the  window,  "I  almost  wish  I  did — I  might  then  have 
some  respect  for  my  opponents." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  demanded  Jack,  not  a  little 
puzzled  that  such  formidable  opponents  should  be  held 
in  so  light  esteem. 

"I  mean,"  said  Waldron,  turning  away  from  the  win- 
dow, and  continuing  his  walk,  "that  I  am  heartily  ashamed 


154  MISTER  BILL 

of  this  squabble  in  which  I  am  engaged — I  cannot  dignify 
it  sufficiently  to  call  it  a  fight.  I  am  compelled  to  meet 
my  adversaries  on  their  own  ground  and  adopt  their 
methods.  I,  too,  must  become  the  gambler — the  crook. 
I  must  play  with  marked  cards  because  I  know  my 
opponents  are  doing  the  same.  I  must  play  these  cards 
from  under  the  table,  and  hold  a  few  up  my  sleeve  in 
case  of  emergency.  I  must  forget  that  I  am  a  man  and 
subdue  every  natural  impulse  I  possess.  Success — if 
success  it  be — is  dearly  won  at  such  a  price.  My  op- 
ponents learn  no  good  lesson  but  avenge  themselves  on 
those  weaker  than  themselves.  This  is  not  the  work  for 
men ;  men  may  descend  to  it,  but  men  can  never  emerge 
from  it — the  very  atmosphere  is  stifling  to  manly  in- 
stincts." 

"I  don't  think  I  have  ever  gone  into  it  so  deeply — 
or  in  that  particular  direction,"  said  Jack,  uncertainly. 

"Some  of  these  modern  Shy  locks  are  so  lost  to  all 
sense  of  decency  on  this  one  subject  of  money  getting 
that  I  actually  believe  they  would  barter  their  very 
souls'  salvation,  were  it  a  tangible  commodity  on  which 
they  could  realize  a  few  paltry  dollars  for  temporal 
gratification,  and  chance  the  possibilities  of  eternal  perdi- 
tion. Did  they  possess  the  power  they  would  insist  upon 
running  the  celestial  kingdom  on  the  mundane  principle 
with  the  almighty  dollar  ever  the  paramount  issue  and 
medium  of  exchange  between  the  two  worlds — the  sole 
passport  to  choice  and  exclusive  circles.  In  short,  the 
celestial  regions  would  forthwith  be  placed  on  a  corporate 
plan — a  rake-off  for  the  benefit  of  the  insiders,  and  labor 
unions  barred.  I  don't  know  that  I  am  altogether  happy 
in  my  expressions.  I  have  no  desire  to  be  irreverent — 


A  FRIEND  IN  NEED  AND  DEED         155 

merely  graphically  illustrative,"  said  Waldron,  with  grim 
humor  and  sarcasm. 

"I  don't  think  you  irreverent,"  Jack  earnestly  pro- 
tested. "I  should  say  that  irreverence  was  the  con- 
spicuous characteristic  of  those  who  usurp  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  others  simply  because  they  possess  the 
power." 

"A  few  words  more  apropos  of  the  subject  we  have 
been  discussing,"  Waldron  continued.  "I  have  entrusted 
you  with  valuable  information.  It  will  be  better  for 
you  to  know  little  concerning  me  or  my  affairs.  I  am 
merely  a  friend — from  the  West,  if  you  like — which  is 
all  that  is  necessary  for  the  present,  in  case  you  meet 
other  inquisitors  than  Mr.  Chadeller.  Tell  your  mother 
not  to  worry  about  this  matter,  as  you  have  reason  to 
believe  that  it  can  be  arranged  without  any  great  sac- 
rifice. Tell  her  also,  to  take  good  care  of  those  pictures ; 
they  are  interesting  you  know,  and  someone  may  de- 
velop a  greater  appreciation  of  their  value  than  you  seem 
to  possess." 

Left  alone,  Waldron  continued  pacing  to  and  fro  as 
was  his  habit  when  in  deep  thought.  Was  it  fate — a 
kind  fate — that  had  brought  him  into  this  little  family 
circle  at  the  critical  time  when  a  guiding  hand  was  so 
sadly  needed,  a  steady  hand  at  the  helm  until  the  storm 
was  safely  weathered?  These  young  people,  and  the 
elder — scarce  wiser  in  the  ways  of  the  world — but  the 
merest  atoms  at  the  mercy  of  the  great  immutable  force 
bearing  them  on  its  resistless  course  to  happiness  and 
hopes  fulfilled,  or  dashing  them  down  to  the  lowest 
depths  of  pain  and  despair  as  they  abided  or  transgressed 
its  laws.  One  false  step,  and  the  youth  had  been  swept 


156  MISTER  BILL 

away,  but  a  strong  arm  had  drawn  him  back.  Yet  an- 
other misfortune,  and  the  cold  relentless  hand  of  avarice 
was  reaching  out  for  the  little  sheltering  roof,  awaiting 
only  a  favorable  opportunity  to  wrench  it  from  their 
grasp — a  small  delectable  morsel  contributing  its  mite 
to  the  insatiable  appetite  of  greed — the  remorseless  power 
of  might  untempered  by  right. 

But  a  friend  in  need  and  deed  had  suddenly  appeared, 
coming  upon  the  scene  so  quietly  that  his  arrival  had 
not  been  heeded.  Little  difference  had  his  coming  been 
heralded  by  blare  of  trumpets  or  beat  of  drums,  except, 
perchance,  that  he  might  have  been  laughed  to  scorn, 
for  what  could  he  hope  to  accomplish  single  handed 
against  the  forces  he  would  be  called  upon  to  meet.  Time 
would  tell. 

So  then,  gentlemen,  present  your  case — that  which 
you  are  pleased  to  term  your  righteous  cause.  There 
is  a  champion  at  court  to-day  where  yesterday  only  a 
widow  and  orphans  opposed  their  way.  Frail  barrier — 
strong  men.  'Twas  scarce  fair  play.  'Tis  now  more 
equal,  and  you  must  fight  to  win.  'Tis  no  stripling 
nor  aged  woman  that  bars  your  way,  but  might  and 
right — an  able-bodied  man  who  awaits  your  coming, 
and  cares  not  whether  or  how  you  come.  Gentlemen,  at 
your  pleasure. 


CHAPTER  XIX 
MAN  MUST  CONQUER 

THE  regular  Saturday  lunching  crowd  was  in  full 
and  animated  attendance  at  the  Waldorf.  Wal- 
dron  had  invited  his  friends  to  a  luncheon  and 
matinee,  which  invitation  all  had  enthusiastic- 
ally accepted  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Winston,  who 
had  insisted  that  the  party  was  far  too  gay  for  her  to 
think  of  keeping  pace  with.  The  affair  was  generally 
conceded  to  be  a  compliment  to  Edith,  and  to  the  desires 
of  that  young  lady  all  had  meekly  bowed.  She  had 
immediately  declared  for  the  Waldorf,  when  the  all  im- 
portant question  of  the  luncheon  came  up  for  considera- 
tion; she  had  never  been  inside  the  great  hotel,  and 
this,  to  be  sure,  was  a  golden  opportunity  not  to  be  neg- 
lected. 

"You  are  all  right,  Sis!"  Jack  had  declared  with 
gracious  condescension.  "You  can  be  your  brother's 
sister  so  long  as  you  possess  such  fine  discretion." 

The  little  party  was  fortunate  in  securing  a  position 
affording  an  excellent  view  of  the  large  dining  room, 
and  to  the  youngest  member  the  scene  was  as  a  glimpse 
of  another  world.  Her  eyes  expressed  wonderment; 
her  words  quaint  impressions  of  the  people  and  surround- 
ings. To  her  all  was  gold  that  glittered,  and  there  was 
much  that  shone  resplendent.  All  were  men  and  women 

157 


158  MISTER  BILL 

quite  ideal — indeed,  who  shall  say  to  the  contrary! 
Princes  and  princesses  there  seemed  to  be  in  surprising 
numbers  upon  this  particular  occasion,  and  a  king1  or 
queen  might  shortly  wander  in,  if  a  certain  Jack — bet- 
ter called  a  knave — did  not  desist  from  ushering  in  these 
notables  and  seating  them  promiscuously  about  the  place 
as  best  suited  his  diabolical  purpose.  To  be  sure,  it  seemed 
not  unreasonable  that  some  of  these  beautifully  gowned 
and  radiant  creatures,  or  those  splendid  men,  might  be 
of  blue,  or  even  royal  blood.  But  when  lords  and  ladies 
simply  dropped  in  on  every  hand,  bright  eyes  glanced 
suspiciously,  and  grave  doubts  began  to  appear  on  the 
small  horizon  of  their  owner's  simple  knowledge  of  the 
world,  which  rapidly  assumed  larger  and  darker  propor- 
tions, finally  breaking  forth  in  an  outburst  of  indignant 
protest  that  peremptorily  bade  Jack  Winston  "stop  his 
nonsense,"  she  did  not  believe  one  word — did  Mr. 
Waldron?  And  that  gentleman,  perforce,  was  compelled 
to  admit  that  he  was  not  in  a  position  to  substantiate 
any  of  the  assertions  of  whatsoever  kind  or  character 
brother  had  made. 

If  the  many  were  a  source  of  interest  to  the  few,  the 
latter  were  accorded  no  little  attention.  Cathalee  num- 
bered among  her  acquaintances  many  of  the  lunchers. 
Theirs  was  a  one-star  company,  Jack  had  occasion  to 
early  remark;  indeed  one  could  hardly  fail  to  note  the 
very  especial  attention  accorded  that  bright  and  particu- 
lar luminary  by  friends  and  strangers  alike. 

Not  unconsciously,  another  member  of  the  party  was 
receiving  rather  more  than  his  share  of  the  attention 
from  a  certain  quarter.  Miss  Constance  Hillman  and 
Mr.  Charles  Francis  Herringdon  chanced  to  be  present 


MAN  MUST  CONQUER  159 

with  a  party  of  friends.  Could  that  young1  woman  be- 
lieve her  eyes?  "Really,  there  must  be  some  mistake — a 
striking  resemblance,  surely !"  Did  Mr.  Herringdon 
know  the  gentleman  ?  "No — that  is,  yes.  Really,  my  dear 
Constance,  it  can't  be,  you  know — By  Jove! — " 

Old  Major  Rothford  came  stamping  in  briskly  and 
pompously  as  became  an  ancient  man  of  valor,  and  catch- 
ing sight  of  the  little  group,  all  of  whom  he  had  known 
from  childhood  (with  the  exception  of  Waldron), charged 
down  upon  them,  and  accorded  his  usual  hearty  greet- 
ing. "Delighted !  Believe  me,  sir — delighted !"  he  vigor- 
ously declared,  giving  Waldron's  hand  a  cordial  grip. 

It  was  characteristic  of  the  Major  to  accord  a  new 
acquaintance  a  hearty  greeting,  and  to  declare  himself 
"Delighted — delighted,  sir!"  yet  the  penetrating  glance 
of  the  sharp  old  eyes,  which  seemed  to  have  lost  none 
of  their  youthful  fire,  seemed  to  say  no  less  plainly  that 
this  hearty  initiative  was  probationary  to  the  good  graces 
of  the  old  warrior.  As  for  the  opposite  sex,  the  Major 
was  far  too  gallant  an  old  soldier  to  lend  himself  to 
even  a  remote  possibility  of  causing  embarrassment  by 
such  tactics,  and,  moreover,  would  doubtless  have  averred 
in  his  characteristic  speech,  "Egad !  you  read  in  a  wom- 
an's eyes  only  what  she  pleases  you  to  know,"  and  he 
was  merely  "Delighted,  madam — I  assure  you,  de- 
lighted !"  bending  his  straight  old  back  with  a  gracious 
dignity  a  younger  man  might  well  envy. 

"Bless  my  old  soul !"  he  vociferated,  "it  does  me  good 
to  see  such  youth  and  beauty,"  glancing  around  the  lit- 
tle group.  "Edith,  if  some  young  fellow  doesn't  catch 
you  pretty  soon  and  lock  you  up  in  a  dark  closet,  you 
will  break  more  hearts  than  Cathy  one  of  these  days.  Ah, 


160  MISTER  BILL 

yes,  my  dear!"  he  insisted,  in  reply  to  Cathalee's  vigor- 
ous protest  of  "Major!"  "You  don't  know  the  havoc 
your  sex  creates  among  us.  We're  a  sad  lot,  Waldron," 
he  solemnly  declared,  "they  dazzle  our  eyes,  steal  our 
hearts,  and  call  us  fickle.  It's  wrong — all  wrong!"  he 
declared,  wagging  his  ancient  head.  "The  odds  are 
against  us." 

"The  Major  is  the  most  gallant  old  beau  in  New 
York  this  very  minute,"  laughed  Cathalee.  "Away 
down  deep  in  his  heart  is  a  firm  and  abiding  conviction  of 
the  very  great  superiority  of  man,  yet  mark  you  the 
compliment  he  pays  us." 

"Egad!  and  I  mean  it — every  word  of  it!"  he  vigor- 
ously protested.  "My  old  white  head,  and  a  rebel  bul- 
let rattling  around  in  my  old  anatomy,  and  a  gout,  are 
all  that  keep  me  from  making  as  big  a  fool  of  myself 
as  some  of  the  younger  chaps,"  he  declared,  as  he  bade 
adieu  to  his  young  friends,  who  were  much  amused  by 
his  infectious  good  humor. 

The  Major  had  retired  from  active  service  some  years 
since  on  a  competency  sufficient  to  afford  his  declining 
years  the  comfort  which  a  long  and  faithful  service  to 
his  country  richly  entitled  him.  He  had  been  fighting 
for  his  country  since  he  could  "tote"  a  gun — "Fought 
for  her,  and  Egad,  sir!  bled  for  her  too — and  I'm  proud 
of  it.  And  there's  a  chip  of  the  old  block  out  there 
in  the  West  that  will  go  on  fighting  for  her  so  long 
as  she  needs  a  defender,  just  as  his  old  dad  did  before 
him." 

The  old  fellow  was  a  modern  edition  of  the  old  school. 
He  had  kept  pace  with  the  times,  yet  his  underlying 
character  and  principles  were  essentially  of  times  long 


MAN  MUST  CONQUER  161 

past.  He  was  old — he  knew  it,  and  had  no  objection 
to  being  called  old.  He  was  out  of  the  running  with 
the  young  fellows — he  was  an  old  fool! — but  "Damme! 
there  are  older  fools  who  have  not  discovered  what 
everybody  else  has  known  for  twenty  years  or  more/' 
he  had  declared,  with  characteristic  vehemence  upon  a 
certain  occasion  when  his  temper  had  been  ruffled. 

He  lived  at  his  club,  and  despite  his  intimation  of 
infirmities,  enjoyed  very  good  health,  and  took  life 
very  complacently.  He  was  a  general  favorite  with  all 
his  acquaintances,  and  his  mood  seldom  varied  from 
that  in  which  he  greeted  his  young  friends.  Cathalee 
was  his  particular  protege  by  virtue  of  a  long-standing 
acquaintance  with  her  parents,  and  rarely  a  week  passed 
but  the  old  fellow  -[wended  his  way  to  the  house  on  the 
Avenue,  where  he  was  ever  a  welcome  guest,  and  dined 
with  mother  and  daughter.  "If  that  headstrong  boy 
of  mine  had  only  consulted  his  old  dad,  instead  of  going 
off  out  West  and  marrying  to  suit  himself,"  he  frequently 
remarked  to  Cathalee,  with  a  regretful  and  expressive 
shake  of  his  venerable  head.  "Oh,  that  undutiful  boy 
of  yours !"  she  invariably  replied,  with  mutual  commisera- 
tion, and  between  them  the  far  away  soldier  boy  was 
ever  the  "Undutiful."  Had  she  been  his  own  daughter 
he  could  not  have  been  more  concerned  for  her  welfare 
and  happiness.  "Your  old  father  and  I  were  boys  to- 
gether, Cathy,"  he  had  told  her  more  than  once,  "and 
as  my  useless  old  life  has  been  given  me  to  make  a 
nuisance  of  myself,  and  be  in  the  way  generally — which 
is  about  all  I  can  say  for  myself — I  am  bound  to  do  by 
his  child  as  he  would  have  done  for  mine  if  circumstances 
had  been  reversed.  So,  girl,  you  must  make  use  of  the 


162  MISTER  BILL 

old  Major  in  any  way  that  he  can  serve  you,  because 
your  happiness  is  nearer  and  dearer  to  his  heart  than 
anything  else  in  his  worn-out  old  life.  My  boy,  (he 
speaks  proudly)  is  a  soldier — he  belongs  to  his  country, 
and  has  no  need  of  his  dad.  What  he  is  not  able  to  do 
for  himself,  his  old  dad  cannot  do  for  him.  When  I  was 
his  age,"  (and  the  eyes  of  the  old  war-horse  flash  with 
the  spirit  of  youth)  "I  was  always  looking  for  trouble 
and  only  happy  when  I  found  it — and  I  was  happy  pretty 
much  all  the  time,  as  I  look  back  over  the  march  I've 
made.  You  are  without  father  or  brother,  my  dear, 
and  a  man  who  has  your  best  interests  at  heart,  even 
if  he  is  only  an  old  duffer,  may  be  of  use  to  you.  Men 
understand  men  for  what  they  really  are,  better  than 
women.  There  are  strange  creatures  masquerading  as 
men  in  this  world ;  they  may  have  a  definite  purpose,  but 
as  yet  it  has  not  been  made  clear.  In  the  meantime,  they 
serve  to  cut  down  the  general  average  of  decency  and 
respectability." 

So  it  happened  that  the  Major  was  a  frequent  escort 
of  mother  and  daughter,  and  more  or  less  familiar  with 
the  men  of  Cathalee's  acquaintance.  When,  therefore, 
a  stranger  appeared  and  evinced  a  desire  to  enroll  him- 
self among  the  no  inconsiderable  number  of  admirers 
of  his  charge,  he  very  soon  acquainted  himself  with  the 
general  worthiness  or  unworthiness  of  the  new-comer. 
Never  obtrusive  in  these  matters — the  Major  was  far  too 
wise  an  old  campaigner  to  permit  his  laudable  motives  to 
encompass  their  own  defeat  by  too  rigid  a  censorship — 
yet  he  had  made  it  clear  upon  several  occasions  that  cer- 
tain individuals  were  a  menace  prolific  of  besmirching 
possibilities,  if  no  worse. 


MAN  MUST  CONQUER  163 

"Better  let  them  find  their  own  level,  Cathy,"  he  had 
told  her.  "Life  is  too  short  to  stand  on  dress-parade 
before  the  enemy  merely  to  show  him  the  strength  of 
your  forces.  Besides,  there  is  always  the  danger  that 
some  disgruntled  coward  or  gibbering  idiot  may  deal  a 
blow  behind  your  back — putting  your  heel  on  a  viper 
after  his  sting  is  poor  satisfaction."  And  waxing  warmer, 
for  this  was  a  subject  on  which  the  Major  never  hesitated 
to  speak  his  mind,  "Not  alone  the  crawling  species,  my 
dear,  run  out  their  tongues  and  strike  an  innocent  hand 
— they  are  true  to  their  natures  and  may  be  guarded 
against.  The  others  are  anomalies,  and  for  some  inex- 
plicable reason,  form  and  instinct  are  not  inseparable — 
more's  the  pity."  His  advice  had  invariably  been  heeded, 
as  Cathalee  had  every  confidence  in  his  judgment,  and 
was  well  satisfied  that  his  generous  and  kindly  old  heart 
would  not  permit  injustice  done  to  any.  Moreover,  her 
own  womanly  instincts  had  told  her  that  he  had  made  no 
mistake. 

It  was  his  custom  to  stroll  down  to  the  Waldorf  in 
the  late  afternoon,  and  with  some  old  crony,  or  young 
chap,  he  was  sure  to  find  around  the  place,  indulge  him- 
self to  the  extent  of  a  congenial  cocktail.  A  day  or  two 
after  making  Waldron's  acquaintance,  he  chanced  to  run 
across  him  in  the  hotel,  and  the  two  enjoyed  a  chat  over 
the  aforesaid  cocktail,  at  the  Major's  invitation.  Waldron 
liked  the  frank  good  humor  of  the  old  fellow,  and  was 
not  a  little  amused  at  his  adroit  and  apparently  disinter- 
ested inquiries  concerning  himself,  the  real  object  of 
which  he  was  at  no  loss  to  understand.  The  fine  hand 
of  the  Major  was  easily  discernible  in  thus  turning  to 
account  this  chance  meeting. 


164  MISTER  BILL 

"By  the  way,  Cathy,  who  is  this  man  Waldron?"  he 
inquired,  in  his  usual  matter-of-fact  way,  when  next  he 
saw  her.  "Seems  very  much  of  a  stranger — nobody 
seems  to  know  him,"  he  added,  as  a  reply  was  not  im- 
mediately forthcoming. 

"A  friend  of  the  Winstons  and — mine,"  she  replied, 
with  a  sly  glance  at  the  old  fellow,  well  knowing  the 
object  of  his  inquiry.  The  unmistakable  emphasis  on 
the  last  word  mildly  surprised  the  Major — his  interven- 
tion was  clearly  not  desired  in  this  particular  instance. 

"Had  a  little  chat  with  him  a  day  or  two  ago — acci- 
dentally ran  across  him  down  at  the  hotel,"  he  told  her, 
not  quite  satisfied  to  drop  the  matter  so  informally. 
"Seems  a  very  decent  sort  of  a  chap,  but  better  be  a 
little  careful,  my  dear — don't  place  too  much  reliance  on 
appearances." 

"That  terrible  horse  of  mine  has  again  distinguished 
himself,"  said  Cathalee,  addressing  Waldron.  "Mr. 
Chadeller,"  glancing  at  Jack  at  the  mention  of  this  name, 
"is  the  latest  victim.  He  essayed  to  manage  the  ani- 
mal but  yesterday,  and  the  poor  man  fared  rather  badly." 

"He  is  a  beast  of  fine  discretion,"  was  the  somewhat 
ambiguous  comment  of  Master  Jack. 

"My  mother,"  she  continued,  ignoring  Jack's  remark, 
"is  in  mortal  fear  lest  I  intend  to  use  him  for  my  own 
mount — which  was  my  original  intention — and  declares 
if  I  do  not  dispose  of  him  immediately,  or  if  I  permit 
another  man  to  endanger  his  life,  she  will  complain  of 
me  to  the  society  for  the  prevention  of  cruelty  to  animals. 
Whether  she  feels  that  the  animal  or  the  men  have  been 
abused,  is  not  quite  clear.  Therefore,  Mr.  Waldron,  I 
shall  not  trouble  you,  or  permit  you  to  endanger  your 


MAN  MUST  CONQUER  165 

young  life  in  attempting  to  curb  the  spirits  of  my  frac- 
tious steed — unless,"  she  hesitated,  seemingly  reluctant 
to  accept  as  final  the  idea  of  parting  with  the  animal, 
"you  are  possessed  of  a  wild  desire  to  try  your  skill,  in 
which  case  I  may  be  able  to  obtain  my  mother's  consent 
to  offer  one  more  sacrifice." 

"I  am  not  conscious  of  possessing  just  such  a  wild  or 
uncontrollable  desire,"  replied  Waldron,  with  indifferent 
good  nature,  "yet  if  you  wish  to  retain  the  animal  I  am 
entirely  willing  to  exert  my  influence  over  his  fractious 
spirits." 

"I  realized  that  my  expression  was  not  tempered  with 
the  finest  distinction,"  said  Cathalee,  with  an  assumption 
of  seriousness.  "I  do  not  believe  you  capable  of  pos- 
sessing a  wild  desire  for  anything.  You  simply  take 
people  and  things  as  you  find  them,  utterly  indifferent 
and  careless  of  the  particular  form  they  assume.  I  am 
curious  to  know  the  sort  of  man  that  really  exists  under 
all  this  indifference.  However,  I  accept  your  offer  with 
the  modification  that  you  will  undertake  the  task  to 
please  me,  rather  than  from  any  particular  desire  on 
your  own  part,  which  serves  to  make  the  obligation  even 
greater,  notwithstanding  which,  I  continue  to  accept," 
she  laughingly  declared,  "and  you  may  expect  to  hear 
from  me  before  many  days.  Oh,  I  am  quite  serious !"  she 
insisted. 

Maude  had  been  a  very  quiet  and  interested  member 
of  the  party,  and  she  promptly  expressed  the  hope  that 
Mr.  Waldron  would  be  able  to  manage  the  unruly  animal ; 
and  her  eyes,  as  they  regarded  the  stalwart  form  by  her 
side,  said  no  less  plainly,  that  she,  at  least,  had  no  doubt 
whatever  as  to  the  outcome. 


166  MISTER  BILL 

"Other  bright  eyes  had  wandered  from  one  to  the 
other  of  the  two  persons  arranging  this  very  questionable 
proceeding,  and  at  its  conclusion,  their  owner  ventured 
to  hope  that  Mr.  Waldron  would  not  permit  himself  to 
be  injured  by  the  unruly  beast.  Whereupon  that  gentle- 
man explained — very  seriously  and  very  confidentially, 
to  be  sure — that  Mrs.  Davidge,  strange  to  say,  seemed 
to  derive  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  in  poking  fun  at  him,  and 
was  even  then  trying  her  best  to  make  him  acknowledge 
that  he  was  afraid  of  her  old  horse,  but  he  would  not 
give  her  that  satisfaction,  to  all  of  which  that  lady  felt 
constrained  to  gracefully  submit,  but  a  certain  glance 
bestowed  upon  that  same  gentleman  was  strongly  sug- 
gestive of  a  later  accounting. 

"Fractious  steed,  indeed!"  laughed  Jack  Winston. 
"Don't  be  alarmed,  Sis.  Mr.  Waldron  is  only  going 
to  put  the  old  nag  through  a  few  fancy  steps,  and  per- 
haps one  of  these  days  we  shall  see  Cathy  and  her  ven- 
erable steed  doing  stunts  in  the  center  ring.  Walk  up, 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  see  the  great  and  only 
Cathy—" 

Time  and  place  are  accountable  for  much,  and  in  the 
present  instance  may  have  had  a  very  material  bearing 
upon  the  general  well-being  of  a  certain  young  man. 
This  was  positively  an  imposition  upon  good  nature,  and 
a  calumny  against  a  youthful  steed  of  bluest  blood. 

"Jack  Winston!"  exclaimed  the  sadly  maligned  young 
woman,  under  stress  of  righteous  indignation.  "I  am 
capable  of  but  one  fiendish  wish  at  the  present  moment. 
That  you  might  be  compelled  to  ride  that  venerable  steed 
is  a  retribution  I  heartily  wish  you.  Venerable!  In- 
deed! The  idea!  Why,  he  is  only  a  baby!"  All  of 


MAN  MUST  CONQUER  167 

which  was  very  confusing  to  the  young  miss  whose  in- 
nocent concern  for  the  welfare  of  her  host  had  pre- 
cipitated such  tragic  and  conflicting  expressions.  Any- 
way, she  hoped  that  Mr.  Waldron  would  not  permit  the 
venerable,  or  baby  steed — whichever  he  might  be — to  do 
him  harm. 


CHAPTER  XX 


FRIENDSHIP   and   character — the    demands    of 
the  one  reveal  the  strength  of  the  other.     As 
fire   is   the   test   of   clay,   so   no   man   may   be 
adjudged  friend  until  he  has  been  tried  and  not 
found  wanting. 

On  the  following  Monday  morning  while  Cathalee  was 
looking  hurriedly  over  her  mail  she  came  upon  a  letter 
that  for  the  time  being  dispelled  all  other  thoughts  from 
her  mind.  She  had  read  but  a  few  words  when  the 
brightness  gradually  faded  from  her  eyes,  and  her  fea- 
tures became  sternly,  even  rigidly  set. 

"Dearest  Cathalee,"  the  letter  read,  "I  cannot  rest 
until  I  have  sent  you  a  note  of  warning — indeed,  I  should 
go  immediately  to  you,  were  it  not  that  I  am  leaving  town 
this  very  afternoon. 

"Who  could  have  so  cruelly  deceived  you?  Do  you 
—of  course  you  cannot  have  any  idea  who  the  man 
really  is.  It  seems  quite  like  a  dream  that  he,  of  all 
men,  should  be  here  in  our  very  midst.  My  dear,  he  is 
a  very  dangerous  man.  He  is  the  leader  of  a  band  of 
men  as  reckless  and  unscrupulous  as  himself.  He  ac- 
tually had  the  audacity  to  defy  my  father,  and  to  hold 
up  our  entire  party  quite  like  a  highwayman.  There 

168 


WOMAN  MUST  CHOOSE  169 

can  be  no  mistake,  my  dear,  as  Mr.  Herringdon  also 
recognized  him  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt.  I  am 
sure  he  recognized  us — he  could  not  have  failed  to  do 
so — and  will  doubtless  be  on  his  guard,  as  must  you,  my 
dear.  Mr.  Herringdon  will  give  you  such  other  informa- 
tion as  time  forbids  me,  and  you  may  trust  to  his  discre- 
tion in  dealing  with  the  man.  I  cannot  bear  to  think  of 
what  might  have  happened  but  for  this  chance  recogni- 
tion. I  shall  see  you  immediately  upon  my  return — in 
about  a  week,  my  dear. 

Lovingly  yours, 

CONSTANCE  HILLMAN." 

Again  she  read  the  letter  and  more  slowly,  her  eyes 
seeming  to  follow  the  tracing  of  each  little  word.  The 
maid  came  to  tell  her  that  her  carriage  was  waiting,  but 
the  words  fell  upon  unheeding  ears.  A  few  minutes  later 
the  maid  again  looked  in  but  her  mistress  had  not  changed 
her  position ;  she  sat  staring  blankly  at  the  letter.  The 
minutes  sped  by  unheeded ;  a  half  hour  passed,  and 
she  made  no  movement.  She  was  thinking — thinking 
as  she  had  never  done  before.  She  was  at  the  crossing 
of  the  roads,  and  she  must  choose  for  herself — her  own 
womanly  instincts  must  be  her  guide. 

Strong  characters  seek  guidance  from  within ;  as  they 
are  strong  they  fear  not  to  trust  themselves.  Their 
friendship  is  not  a  trivial  thing  to  be  influenced  by  vari- 
able winds,  nor  does  the  breath  of  calumny  waft  it 
away.  Nearly  an  hour  had  passed  when  she  suddenly 
roused  herself,  and  turning  to  her  desk,  deliberately 
penned  a  brief  note. 


170  MISTER  BILL 

"Dear  Mr.' Waldron: 

"Saturday  is  the  day — 1 130  the  hour,  which  means 
that  you  are  invited  to  luncheon.  You  will  meet  my 
mother — a  small  formality  to  be  observed — after  which 
I  may  ride  with  you  in  the  park. 

Cordially  yours, 

CATHALEE  DAVIDGE." 

Calling  the  maid,  she  gave  her  a  few  brief  instruc- 
tions, and  taking  the  letter  with  her  she  went  calmly  out 
to  the  waiting  carriage.  She  had  chosen  and  she  would 
abide  the  consequences. 

Waldron  presented  himself  at  the  appointed  time  and 
place.  He  immediately  discovered  that  mother  and 
daughter  were  as  dissimilar  as  two  persons  of  the  same 
flesh  and  blood  and  dwelling  beneath  the  same  roof 
could  well  be.  He  also  learned  that  he  was  persona  non 
grata  with  the  mother,  and  understood  that  he  had  been 
bidden  to  come  simply  because  it  suited  Cathalee's  pur- 
pose, and  at  best,  the  mother's  acquiescence  had  been  but 
submissive.  The  inevitable  conceded,  nothing  remained 
but  to  make  the  best  of  an  uninteresting  situation,  and 
to  observe  certain  formalities  of  which  graciousness  and 
hospitality  were  not  the  necessary  accompaniments. 
Perforce,  ill  concealed,  were  several  remarks  addressed 
to  the  guest  adapted  with  commendable  consideration  to 
his  understanding,  clearly  demonstrating  that  Mrs. 
Worthington  had  failed  to  discern  any  common  ground 
(indeed  it  is  a  grievous  error  to  suggest  even  the  ground 
as  common  on  which  this  aristocratic  woman  might 
deign  to  tread)  on  which  she  and  the  stranger  might 
stand.  He  was  from  the  West,  she  understood.  Had 


WOMAN  MUST  CHOOSE  171 

he  never  been  in  New  York  before?  Yes — many  years 
before.  "Ah!  Indeed!"  expressive  of  resignation  and 
a  duty  conscientiously  performed,  for  what  could  pos- 
sibly avail  after  such  an  admission.  The  man  was  quite 
impossible.  She  knew  little  of  the  world  outside  of 
her  New  York,  and  possessed  no  inclination  whatever 
to  make  its  acquaintance,  while  her  desire  to  rub  el- 
bows with  its  denizens  was  even  more  remote.  Her  New 
York  was  limited  to  her  own  small  and  select  circle,  be- 
yond the  prescribed  limits  of  which  she  rarely  ventured, 
and  around  which  she  had  revolved  year  after  year  with 
the  unvarying  precision  rarely  attained  by  the  human 
mechanism.  Scant  encouragement  and  less  welcome  was 
the  portion  of  him  who  sought  to  enter  this  charmed 
circle.  Eternal  vigilance  was  the  price  of  its  exclusive- 
ness — the  indelible  stamp  of  its  tensity  was  apparent 
upon  every  feature,  the  consciousness  of  its  responsi- 
bility manifest  in  every  word  and  act.  Had  the  guest 
inclined  to  volubility  he  might,  perhaps,  have  awakened 
a  keener  interest  in  himself,  by  explaining  that  during 
the  "many  years  before,"  he  had  lived  not  far  distant 
on  the  same  avenue ;  in  fact,  had  been  born  in  a  certain 
mansion  still  extant  which,  if  the  truth  were  known,  was 
before  the  lady  herself  came  to  reside  on  the  aristocratic 
thoroughfare. 

Cathalee  was  easily  equal  to  the  necessary  formalities 
of  the  occasion,  and  no  embarrassing  situations  were 
allowed  to  obtrude  themselves,  but  even  her  admitted 
talents  and  cheery  good  nature  failed  to  dispel  a  certain 
frigidness  in  the  atmosphere,  and  it  is  no  great  hazard 
to  say,  that  while  the  luncheon  doubtless  served  its  pur- 
pose, all  were  frankly  glad  when  it  came  to  an  end. 


172  MISTER  BILL 

"Please  sir,  do  not  permit  anything  terrible  to  happen, 
I  beg  of  you,"  said  Cathalee,  with  an  air  of  tragic  con- 
cern, as  clad  in  a  simple  and  vastly  becoming  habit  she 
descended  the  steps.  "I  have  simply  been  made  to  feel 
that  I  am  jeopardizing  your  young  life,  and  dire  respons- 
ibility hangs  over  me." 

"Your  wishes  shall  be  most  consistently  and  conscien- 
tiously observed,"  he  laughed.  "I  certainly  am  not 
seeking  a  reckless  and  untimely  disposition  of  myself." 

"Might  it  not  be  well  to  make  the  acquaintance  of 
your  mount  before  assisting  me?"  she  inquired,  regard- 
ing with  some  concern  the  spirited  and  restless  animal 
that  was  giving  the  groom  no  little  trouble  to  manage. 

"The  formalities  shall  be  duly  observed,  I  promise 
you,"  he  said,  extending  his  hand  to  assist  her  to  mount. 

"It  would  be  extremely  embarrassing  to  be  compelled 
to  take  to  the  street  cars  after  all,"  she  suggested,  rather 
more  ill  at  ease  than  she  was  willing  to  admit.  "Do  you 
know,  sir,  you  have  never  even  inquired  what  are  his 
faults,"  she  informed  him,  her  mount  accomplished. 

"That  would  be  taking  rather  an  unfair  advantage, 
would  it  not?  I  dare  say  he  will  confide  in  me  as  our 
acquaintance  progresses." 

"Well,  really,  I  don't  think  I  am  versed  in  equine 
etiquette  if  it  runs  along  those  lines,"  she  laughed. 
"But  judging  from  his  behavior  I  should  say  that  a 
heart  to  heart  interview  awaits  you." 

"You  might  tell  me  his  name  and  assist  the  acquain- 
tance to  that  extent,"  he  lightly  replied,  stepping  along 
to  where  the  groom  was  having  considerable  difficulty 
with  the  spirited  animal. 


WOMAN  MUST  CHOOSE  173 

"His  christening  was  a  marvel  of  foresight.  He  bears 
the  black  and  suggestive  appellation  of  Wizard." 

"Certainly  prolific  of  possibilities.  Well,  old  chap,  are 
you  as  black  in  equine  arts  as  your  color  and  name  sug- 
gest?" he  affably  inquired,  laying  hold  of  the  bridle  and 
stroking  the  animal's  head  and  neck,  and  glancing  crit- 
ically at  the  restless  eyes.  "Not  such  a  bad  eye.  Just 
a  little  headstrong — a  little  spoiled — and  a  little  mis- 
understanding all  around,  I  guess.  After  all,  you  would 
not  be  of  much  account  without  a  will  of  your  own, 
would  you,  old  fellow?" 

"He's  werry  wishus,  sor!  He'll  give  you  a  dale  of 
truble,  if  no  wurse,"  the  groom  hastened  to  explain, 
earnestly  solicitous  lest  a  false  estimate  be  placed  on  his 
charge.  "I'll  howld  him,  sor!"  he  protested,  as  Wal- 
dron  would  relieve  him  of  further  responsibility,  "He's 
a  werry  bad  actor!" 

"What  is  your  name?"  asked  Waldron,  looking  down 
at  him  rather  amusedly. 

"John,  sor !" 

"Very  well,  John,  you  may  trust  your  charge  with 
me  and  I  will  return  him  to  you  a  better  and  a  wiser 
animal." 

"Its  not  the  baste  I'm  thinking  of  sor!  Shure,  and 
if  he  niver  cum  bark,  divil  a  tare  wud  John  Flanagan 
wape.  Shure  he'll  cum  bark  arl  right — the  divil  laves 
no  harrum  to  his  own." 

"You  have  said  it,  John,"  laughed  Waldron.  "On  that 
basis  we  shall  get  on  very  well,"  which  conversation 
amused  Cathalee  not  a  little,  but  the  finer  point  was 
lost  upon  John,  who  failed  to  discern  humor  in  any  form 
even  remotely  associated  with  this  "black  baste."  John 


174  MISTER  BILL 

had  seen  several  men  come  to  grief  in  their  efforts  to 
manage  this  same  animal,  and  knowing  himself  from 
sad  experience  the  temper  of  the  brute,  he  reluctantly 
released  the  bridle  to  the  good-natured  stranger,  who 
seemed  not  to  realize  the  trouble  he  was  making  for 
himself. 

Waldron  backed  Wizard  away  from  the  curb,  stroking 
his  sleek  and  shining  coat,  talking  to  him  with  easy 
familiarity,  his  every  movement  indicative  of  the  confi- 
dence characteristic  of  a  master  and  lover  of  the  equine 
race.  To  him  the  horse  was  endowed  with  instinct  little 
less  than  human.  Indeed,  he  had  said  upon  more  than  one 
occasion  that  a  good  horse  was  far  more  companionable 
than  many  a  man,  and  as  he  had  spent  weeks  on  the 
plains  and  among  the  hills,  a  faithful  horse  his  sole 
companion,  the  remark  might  perhaps  be  regarded  as 
something  more  than  a  mere  figure  of  speech.  He  had 
broken  and  ridden  horses  ranging  from  the  fierce  and 
stubborn  thoroughbreds,  to  the  mongrels,  even  worse, 
lacking  as  they  do  the  finer  instincts  of  the  truer  breeds, 
and  are  simply  brutes,  worse  confounded.  To  him,  the 
breaking  and  handling  a  horse  was  simple  play,  and  the 
average  representative  of  the  equine  race  was  little  more 
than  a  child  in  his  hands.  So  it  was  not  strange  that 
he  had  hardly  given  a  serious  thought  to  the  task  before 
him,  but  rather,  looked  upon  Wizard  merely  as  a  spoiled 
child  in  need  of  a  little  judicious  correction. 

"I  am  not  surprised  that  you  are  reluctant  to  part  with 
him,"  he  said,  stepping  back  and  regarding  the  animal 
with  unfeigned  admiration.  "He  is  certainly  a  beauty." 

"Thank  you,  sir!"  she  replied,  with  prettily  feigned 
seriousness.  "I  believe  this  is  the  first  real  interest,  or 


WOMAN  MUST  CHOOSE  175 

anything  approaching  enthusiasm,  that  I  have  seen  you 
manifest.  Wizard,  you  are  developing  possibilities — 
you  have  accomplished  more  than  your  mistress  in  much 
less  time,"  she  gaily  informed  that  equine  beauty.  The 
admiration,  however,  was  clearly  on  the  one  side,  as 
Wizard  glared  wildly  and  suspiciously  at  his  fond  ad- 
mirer, and  in  various  ways  expressed  an  enthusiastic 
desire  to  free  himself  from  that  gentleman's  presence.  . 

The  time  had  now  arrived  to  proceed  with  the  business 
in  hand.  The  man  prepared  to  mount,  but  was  im- 
mediately made  aware  of  an  exceedingly  well-developed 
and  no  less  undesirable  propensity  on  the  part  of  the 
animal.  Away  went  Wizard  with  a  bound,  and  from 
a  less  strong  arm  would  have  freed  himself.  As  it  was, 
his  antic  was  merely  indulged  for  the  moment,  a  vice- 
like  grip  placed  on  the  reins  just  back  of  the  bits  ex- 
erting no  gentle  pressure  on  the  tender  mouth,  quickly 
bringing  him  to  terms,  and  convincing  his  equine  under- 
standing of  the  futility  of  attempting  to  escape. 

"You  see,  sir,  his  conduct  leaves  something  to  be 
desired,"  said  Cathalee.  "I  fear  you  will  find  him  rather 
difficult  That  is  really  his  worst  fault — in  other  respects 
his  conception  of  the  proprieties  is  fairly  commendable,  I 
believe." 

The  animal's  fiery  spirit  was  now  thoroughly  aroused. 
His  eyes  flashed  fire,  and  he  trembled  in  every  limb;  he 
stamped  his  feet,  tossed  his  head,  angrily  champed  his 
bits  flicking  bits  of  foam  about,  and  in  all  respects  be- 
haved very  badly  for  a  well-bred  horse — or  perhaps 
very  properly  for  one  of  his  aristocratic  breeding. 

The  movements  of  the  man  were  now  more  brisk  and 
businesslike.  Formalities  had  been  duly  observed,  and 


176  MISTER  BILL 

the  real  question  of  supremacy  of  man  or  beast  would 
now  be  settled  promptly  and  conclusively.  Stroking 
the  arching  neck,  and  running  his  hand  over  the  shapely 
shoulder  on  which  the  veins  stood  out  like  animated 
cords,  he  arranged  the  stirrup  to  his  liking,  and  taking 
a  short  hold  on  the  nearest  rein,  Wizard  was  suddenly 
made  to  feel  the  heavy  hand  of  retribution.  With  no 
gentle  movement  the  pretty  head  was  brought  around 
almost  to  the  limits  prescribed  by  nature,  and  before 
released — without  which  he  could  not  well  repeat  his 
previous  performance — the  man  was  in  the  saddle.  It 
would  be  difficult,  to  say  which  was  the  more  surprised 
— the  lady  sitting  on  yonder  horse,  or  the  Wizard.  This 
was  outrageous  and  unaccustomed  treatment — the  pretty 
and  arching  neck  had  received  a  shameful  wrench.  Such 
ignominy  must  be  avenged  at  once.  He  obeyed  his  ani- 
mal instinct,  and  made  a  wild  plunge — that  was  his  evi- 
dent intent — but  again  was  he  at  a  disadvantage  to  the 
extent  that  his  move  was  anticipated,  and  around  came 
that  shapely  head  again,  but  well  down,  and  his  Wizard- 
ship  narrowly  escaped  being  brought  humbly  to  his 
knees  from  the  impetus  so  quickly  checked.  Very  well! 
As  he  was  not  permitted  to  go  his  own  way,  he  would  go 
the  way  his  head  was  turned — with  a  vengeance.  He 
received  encouragement  entirely  unexpected,  and  after 
making  several  revolutions  suddenly  discovered  that  he 
was  merely  chasing  his  own  tail  which,  despite  his  most 
frantic  efforts,  was  as  far  removed  as  in  the  beginning, 
all  of  which,  to  an  animal  of  his  spirit  was  an  exceed- 
ingly mortifying  not  to  say  monotonous  proceeding.. 
Moreover,  he  was  a  little  dizzy,  a  little  confused,  and 
decidedly  uncertain  of  things  in  general,  except  that  the 


WOMAN  MUST  CHOOSE  177 

way  of  the  transgressor — at  least  for  a  horse — in  the 
hands  of  this  rough  man  was  closely  allied  with  a 
cramped  neck,  a  very  uncomfortable  mouth,  and  a  pro- 
nounced inability  to  follow  his  own  inclinations ;  and 
as  he  was  not  such  a  very  bad  Wizard  after  all,  he  al- 
lowed himself  to  be  guided  alongside  his  more  sedate 
stable  companion,  admitting  his  defeat  like  the  sensible 
fellow  he  was,  and  the  two  ambled  amiably  down  the 
Avenue. 

"Well!"  exclaimed  Cathalee,  expressing  surprise  lit- 
tle short  of  incredulity,  "however  did  you  manage?  I 
have  certainly  missed  something — I  did  not  even  see 
how  it  happened.  I  fancy  Wizard  has  not  even  yet  re- 
covered from  the  shock — poor  fellow — he  seems  quite 
dazed,"  she  said,  glancing  sympathetically  at  her  pet. 
"When  you  have  a  thing  to  do  you  stand  not  upon  the 
order  of  doing,  but  do — don't  you  ?  I  think  on  the  whole 
I  rather  like  your  way,  but  I  don't  believe  I  quite  under- 
stand you,"  she  told  her  companion,  regarding  him  with 
thoughtful  interest. 

"He  is  not  vicious,"  said  Waldron,  apparently  un- 
conscious of  the  very  pretty  compliment  paid  him.  "High 
spirited  and  a  trifle  headstrong.  There  is  a  deal  of 
human  nature  in  a  horse.  Give  him  his  head  once,  and 
he  expects  it  the  next  time,  and  will  fight  for  it — and 
a  little  more.  Natural — the  man  does  the  same.  We 
put  a  bridle  on  the  horse,  jerk  his  head,  twist  his  mouth, 
and  perhaps  beat  him — a  further  proof  of  our  very  su- 
perior intelligence — and  the  animal  eventually  reflects 
the  character  of  the  man — some  horses  resemble  asses. 
The  man,  unfortunately,  is  allowed  to  pursue  an  indis- 


178  MISTER  BILL 

criminate  career,  and  lowers  not  only  the  standard  of 
his  own,  but  the  equine  race  as  well." 

"Help!  Help!"  exclaimed  Cathalee.  "What  terrible 
— is  it  philosophy,  or  heresy?  The  sins  of  the  animal 
are  surely  visited  on  his  mistress — there  is  no  other  way 
out  of  it,"  she  laughingly  declared.  "And  quite  right, 
too,  I  must  admit  on  reflection,  although  the  idea  had 
never  occurred  to  me.  When  he  came  into  my  posses- 
sion he  was  fairly  well  mannered,  but  gradually  de- 
veloped those  disagreeable  characteristics,  and  became 
worse  and  worse  after  each  man  attempted  to  manage 
him.  He  just  knew  he  was  master,  and  simply  reveled  in' 
the  consciousness  of  his  equine  superiority,  until — well, 
until  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  certain  man — and 
that  man,  if  I  mistake  not,"  turning  a  suspicious  glance 
upon  her  companion,  "is  very  much  inclined  to  apply  the 
same  methods  to  man  and  beast." 


CHAPTER  XXI 
MAN'S  REGENERATION 

DO  not  flatter  yourself,  sir,  that  all  this  marked 
attention  is  a  tribute  to  your  good  looks  and 
magnificent  physique,"  said   Cathalee,  with  a 
sly  glance  at  her  companion  after  several  car- 
riages had  passed,  and  the  occupants,  nodding  recogni- 
tion to  her,  had  turned  their  attention  to  her  escort. 

"Listen !  You  shall  know  how  very  conceited  I  can 
be  upon  occasion — even  to  your  detraction,"  she  told 
him,  with  great  good  humor.  "You  must  know  that  I 
ride  in  the  park  with  very  few  gentlemen.  My  mother 
has  very  decided  ideas  as  to  the  proprieties  involved,  and 
the  sudden  appearance  of  a  handsome  stranger,"  mak- 
ing him  a  pretty  salute,  "as  my  escort,  naturally  excites 
some  interest — not  to  say  curiosity.  I  hope  you  are 
fully  conscious,  sir,  of  the  very  great  favor  you  are 
supposed  to  be  enjoying  at  the  present  moment.  Now 
have  I  not  fairly  outdone  myself?"  she  demanded,  with 
engaging  frankness. 

"I  fear  that  I  have  only  succeeded  in  confusing  you," 
she  continued,  more  seriously.  "You  are  trying  to 
reconcile  my  mother's  permission  to  ride  with  you  with 
her  general  attitude,  are  you  not?  Please  do  not  try. 
I  may  as  well  tell  you  in  the  beginning  they  are  quite  ir- 
reconcilable." 

179 


i8o  MISTER  BILL 

"Please  to  define  my  responsibility.  Incidentally,  of 
what  conspicuous  misdemeanor  have  I  been  guilty?"  he 
inquired,  but  apparently  not  greatly  disturbed. 

"I  shall  be  perfectly  frank.  My  mother  does  not 
approve  of  you  in  the  least.  Not  because  of  anything 
you  have  done — her  seal  of  disapproval  was  placed  upon 
you  in  advance — but  my  acquaintance  with  you.  You 
may  trace  your  ancestry  back  to  Caesar's  time;  you 
may  possess  wealth  untold ;  you  may  be  a  member  of  an 
ultra  exclusive  set  in  some  quarter  of  the  globe ;  but  as 
you  have  not  confessed  to  any  of  these  possibilities  or 
their  kindred  my  mother  immediately  assumes  the  lack 
of  them.  To  me  such  things  are  intensely  shallow.  To 
be  sure,  I  do  not  object  to  a  well-defined  position  in 
society;  nor  do  I  consider  an  ancient  lineage  a  mis- 
fortune; and  one  may  suffer  wealth  with  complacency. 
My  objection  is  to  the  homage  and  adulation  paid  to 
these  deities — they  are  little  less  in  the  estimation  of 
many — and  to  the  desire  to  cast  into  outer  darkness 
those  who  chance  not  to  possess  a  heritage  of  some- 
thing or  other  for  which  they  were  in  no  way  responsi- 
ble. I  find  interesting  people  in  all  stations,  and  the  re- 
verse is  no  less  true ;  but  if  the  innate  man  or  woman 
appeals  to  me  all  else  is  secondary." 

"Yours  is  hardly  the  universal  standard,"  he  said,  re- 
garding his  companion  with  interest. 

"My  mother  cannot  understand  this  affair  to-day.  I 
do  not  in  the  least  mind  saying  that  I  like  your  company 
— else  why  be  here.  You  do  not  annoy  me  by  making 
love  or  saying  ridiculous  things.  You  have  no  hobbies 
to  bore  me  into  little  bits.  Nor  do  you  tell  me  of  your 
heart  conquests,  soul  yearnings,  escapades  in  general, 


MAN'S  REGENERATION  181 

of  which  as  a  class  I  am  heartily  tired.  On  the  other 
hand,  you  may  be  a  very  bad  man,  as  I  know  very  little 
about  you,  but  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  take  the  chances. 
I  certainly  know  you  for  a  very  brave  man;  that  you 
have  a  generous  and  kindly  heart  I  also  know,  and  after 
that  I  do  not  believe  that  you  can  be  very  bad,  and — 
well,  you  have  broken  my  horse,  for  which  I  am  very 
much  obliged,"  she  laughingly  declared. 

Life  and  vigor  were  in  the  very  atmosphere  this  golden 
autumn  day  and  these  two  young  persons  in  the  robust- 
ness of  their  matured  youth  breathed  it  and  were  made 
light  of  heart  and  strong  in  mind  and  body.  Nor  was 
the  same  boon  denied  to  the  lesser  of  God's  creatures 
and  the  spirits  of  their  noble  servants  beat  in  close  ac- 
cord. Those  arching  necks  and  prancing  steps  and  snap- 
ping eyes  told  no  less  plainly  than  that  joyous  voice  or 
that  hearty  laugh  of  the  keen  enjoyment  of  man  and 
beast. 

"That  is  Mr.  Burrows,  the  great  financier,"  she  told 
him,  as  a  victoria  of  conspicuous  elegance  flashed  past 
containing,  as  was  evident  from  the  merest  glance,  two 
opposing  elements  of  humanity.  An  exceedingly  portly 
gentleman  was  sitting  rigidly  erect  and  well  forward, 
his  conspicuously  large  hands  resting  on  a  massive  gold- 
headed  cane,  his  gaze  of  scowling  intensity  directed 
steadily  before  him.  Reclining  far  back  behind  her  lord 
and  master  was  a  frail  and  diminutive  creature  upon 
whom  the  vicissitudes  of  life  had  weighed  too  heavily, 
and  the  slight  form  had  slowly  shrunk  within  itself 
until  its  flickering  light  seemed  in  imminent  danger  of 
being  snuffed  out  by  the  first  fair  wind.  "I  am  told  that 
he  makes  thousands  of  dollars  every  day.  Is  it  really 


182  MISTER  BILL 

possible?  I  have  much  sympathy  for  her,  poor  soul! 
She  seems  so  utterly  and  helplessly  oppressed  by  the 
sense  of  his  overpowering-  personality  that  I  sometimes 
think  she  would  be  meekly  grateful  if  a  merciful  Father 
might  take  her  away,  and  have  done  at  once  what  man 
is  accomplishing  by  degrees." 

And  thus  the  two  men  who  were  destined  before 
many  days  to  make  history  in  the  world  of  finance  were 
met  for  one  brief  instant.  Unknown  and  unheeded  on 
the  one  side ;  barely  known  and  scanned  with  one  quick 
imperturbable  glance  on  the  other. 

"I  believe  he  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  bright  and 
shining  examples  of  the  successful  man  of  to-day,"  she 
continued.  "Perhaps  you  know  him — by  reputation?" 

"By  reputation — yes." 

"It  seems  to  me,  if  I  were  a  man — please  note  a  wom- 
an's logic — I  should  feel  it  incumbent  upon  me  to  guard 
my  reputation  rather  more  zealously  than  he  seems  to 
deem  it  necessary." 

"In  other  words,  you  would  be  a  man  first, — " 

"And  last,"  she  interposed.  "I  should  feel  that  any- 
thing less  was  a  misuse  and  abuse  of  the  powers  and 
purpose  of  my  existence.  However,  that  is  only  a  wom- 
an's idea;  I  dare  say  if  I  were  a  man  I  should  take 
quite  another  view  of  the  matter — women  are  so  very 
illogical." 

"Bertie  Holly!"  she  suddenly  exclaimed,  as  they  made 
an  abrupt  turn  in  the  road,  and  an  effeminate  youth 
perched  high  on  a  jiggly  cart  whisked  past  with  flourish' 
of  whip,  doff  of  cap,  and  a  reckless  disregard  for  the 
diminutive  beast  pegging  away  for  dear  life,  his  short 
dumpy  legs  making  a  continuous  rat-ta-tat  on  the  hard 


MAN'S  REGENERATION  183 

roadway.  "I  could  not  imagine  what  was  coming,"  she 
laughed,  with  a  sigh  of  relief,  "and  to  think  it  was  only 
Bertie.  Bertie  is  really  very  useful  in  his  own  peculiar 
way.  He  seems  never  so  happy  as  when  pouring  tea 
for  a  party  of  ladies.  Whether  because  of  his  particular 
fondness  for  our  sex,  or  because  he  fancies  himself 
more  the  man,  as  sole  representative  of  his  own,  I  have 
never  been  able  to  discover.  Bertie  is  a  product  of  our 
effete  civilization — he  would  hardly  thrive  in  your  stren- 
uous country?" 

"He  would  hardly  be  considered  indigenous  to  the 
soil.  Such  rare  exotics  seldom  thrive  in  the  trans- 
planting." 

"I  fancied  as  much,"  she  said,  laughing  softly.  "I  was 
curious  to  know  the  particular  form  your  expression 
would  take." 

"There  is  a  strange  and  lamentable  divergence  from 
the  divinely  endowed  man  to  the  individual  evolved 
by  contact  with  his  fellows,"  he  briefly  observed. 

"Oh,  me!"  she  sighed,  as  a  tightly  closed  brougham 
rolled  sedately  past  permitting  a  momentary  glimpse  of 
a  solitary  figure  muffled  almost  out  of  sight  in  furs. 
"How  can  one  put  oneself  into  such  close  confinement 
this  lovely  day?  That  poor  creature  is  afflicted  with 
what  I  am  pleased  to  term  the  sensitive  habit.  She 
possesses  a  morbid  idea  that  the  entire  social  world  is 
lying  awake  nights  plotting  her  undoing  entirely  ob- 
livious of  the  fact  that  she  is  simply  a  slave  to  her  own 
jealousies  and  selfishness.  Ah,  me !  What  afflictions  we 
poor  mortals  do  put  upon  ourselves." 

Several  times  he  had  surprised  a  look  of  curious  in- 
quiry directed  upon  him  by  his  companion  which  he 


184  MISTER  BILL 

was  at  a  loss  to  interpret.  "I'll  confess,"  she  laughed, 
when  again  caught  in  the  act.  "I  have  simply  been  trying 
to  discover  whether  you  are  interested  in  these  side  lights 
I  have  been  throwing1  upon  your  fellow  creatures  or— 

"If  I  am  satiated  with  civilization?" 

"Yes — certain    phases    of    it — since    you    are    pie; 
to  place  it  in  that  way.     I  do  not  think  you  much  in 
sympathy  with  the  idiosyncrasies  of  our  much  lauded 
society." 

"I  confess  my  inability  to  take  them  altogether  seri- 
ously," he  was  compelled  to  admit. 

"I  thought  so!"  she  laughingly  exclaimed.  "I  am 
well  aware  that  yours  is  quite  a  different  standard.  I 
confess  I  am  rather  curious  to  know  more  of  that  pe- 
culiar standard  by  which  you  gauge  yourself  and  your 
fellows — and  I  shall  not  be  quite  satisfied  until  I  do." 

"I  fear  you  will  find  my  regeneration  rather  a  difficult 
task.  I  have  been  too  long  removed  from  the  influence 
of  civilization  to  be  at  once  made  over." 

"I  shall  find  it  very  interesting — of  that  I  am  quite 
convinced.  I  have  strong  suspicions  that  latent  pos- 
sibilities— perhaps  very  interesting  possibilities — may  lie 
concealed  beneath  that  coolly  indifferent  exterior,"  she 
declared,  with  interesting  frankness. 

"Now  there  is  a  man  whom  I  consider  truly  unfor- 
tunate," she  said,  with  an  assumption  of  seriousness,  as 
a  sorrel  charger  loped  past  bearing  the  individual  in 
question.  "The  poor  man  is  really  anxious  to  take  unto 
himself  a  wife,  but  to  date,  his  quest  for  the  particular 
woman  upon  whom  he  can  bestow  his  heart's  affections 
has  met  with  dire  failure.  No,  he  seems  not  unduly  fas- 
tidious— even  admits  that  he  docs  not  expcd  perfection. 


MAX'S  REGENERATION  185 

He  is  at  a  loss  to  understand  why  we,  as  a  sex,  do  not 
find  it  to  our  advantage  to  be  less  artificial.  Plainly. 
why  we  persist  in  climbing  to  heights  beyond  our  power 
to  maintain,  only  to  deliberately  cast  ourselves  down. 
He  frankly  propounded  the  query  to  me,  and  I  suggested 
that  he  try  the  effect  upon  his  sensibilities  of  less  ecstatic 
creatures — the  more  common  fibre — the  supposition,  of 
course,  that  the  mean  fall  would  be  less  and  the  resultant 
disparity  materially  modified.  The  suggestion  met  with 
even  heartier  approval  than  I  could  have  properly  an- 
ticipated and  I  fancied  that  I  detected  a  certain  some- 
thing which  I  promptly  nipped  in  its  intipiency.  by 
declaring  my  own  irresponsibility  and  general  unworthi- 
ness  of  the  trust  I  could  not  possibly  appreciate  such 
a  very  literal  interpretation  of  my  suggestion.  One  need 
not  necessarily  suffer  crucifixion  to  -prove  one's  theory — 
need  or. 

"Man's  vagaries  and  woman's  theories  afford  a  broad 
field  for  speculation,"  was  the  noncommittal  reply. 

"At  last!"  she  exultantly  exclaimed  when,  after  per- 
sistent probing  and  circumvention  she  had  succeeded  in 
extracting  a  desired  bit  of  information.  "Now  I  have 
the  key  to  the  situation  and  I  shall  proceed  to  put  the 
parts  together  and  draw  my  own  conclusions," 

"I  refuse  to  be  responsible  for  conclusions  drawn 
from  such  a  source,"  he  protested,  good  naturedly. 

"Of  course  you  do !  But  what  is  one  to  do  when  you 
are  approachable  only  on  the  installment  plan — when  one 
is  more  curious  than  polite?" 

"Still,  it  is  palpably  unfair  to  thrust  conclusions  upon 
one ;  misconception,  not  to  say  injustice,  may  result" 

"The  only  alternative  is  a  full  and   free  confession 


186  MISTER  BILL 

when  I  wish  to  know  things,  otherwise  I  shall  simply 
be  compelled  to  draw  my  own  conclusions,  and  I  may — 
I  dare  say  I  shall — think  very  badly  of  you.  So,  sir,  be- 
ware!— your  reputation  is  at  stake." 

"Or  rather,  hangs  upon  a  woman's  fancy — rather  a 
slender  thread,  I  fear." 

"Indeed,  yes,"  she  laughed.  "I  positively  would  not 
dare  tell  you  all  the  things  I  think  of  you  even  now," 
she  recklessly  declared,  and  the  sudden  consciousness  of 
the  literal  truth  of  the  assertion  caused  her  to  blush  furi- 
ously and  to  quickly  change  the  subject. 

"There  now!"  she  laughed,  with  feminine  exultation. 
"There  is  the  other  side  of  matrimonial  felicity — a  ver- 
itable triumph  of  the  weaker  sex  by  force  of  will  and 
avoirdupois,"  as  a  carriage  drawn  by  a  dashing  pair  of 
bays  whirled  past,  the  woman  in  this  instance  being  the 
dominant  power. 

"That  couple  will  certainly  bring  me  to  grief  some 
day.  I  have  not  the  least  control  over  myself  when- 
ever they  appear  upon  the  scene.  One  is  never  pre- 
pared for  their  coming,  which  perhaps  is  well.  They 
put  in  an  appearance  at  odd  and  uncertain  intervals, 
and  before  one  is  aware  they  have  said  good-bye  and 
gone  or  zipped  past  in  their  mad  race  with  something 
or  other  which  seems  for  ever  keeping  them  at  their 
best  paces.  You  must  know  that  you  have  looked  upon 
Mrs.  and  Mr.  Hannum — please  note  the  precedence. 

"Is  it  possible?  You  quite  surprise  me!  Well,  then, 
she  bears  the  more  or  less  enviable  distinction  of  being 
one  of  our  foremost  clubwomen — goes  in  for  reforms, 
advanced  ideas,  and  I  don't  know  what  all.  What  par- 
ticular movement  has  she  inaugurated?  Sir,  you  are 


MAN'S  REGENERATION  187 

most  unkind  to  develop  this  sudden  curiosity.  As  you 
insist,  I  believe  that  she  has  not  as  yet  achieved  greatness 
outside  her  own  particular  coterie  of  followers,  but  she 
possesses  marvelous  ideas  which  in  time  are  bound  to 
be  accorded  due  recognition.  At  least  that  is  the  oft 
repeated  assertion — in  the  meantime  we  are  all  very 
patient.  She  is  a  very  busy  woman  but  very  consider- 
ately devotes  Saturday  afternoons  to  her  husband.  The 
implicit  faith  of  the  little  man  in  her  whom  he  loves, 
honors,  and  obeys,  and  regards,  as  I  am  inclined  to 
think,  as  mightier  than  his  maker,  is  beautiful  to  behold. 
The  marriage  service  should  certainly  have  been  reversed 
to  meet  the  exigencies  of  their  union.  The  Major  holds 
some  rather  strenuous  views  on  this  particular  subject 
— rather  beyond  my  depth  I  fear.  However,  should  you 
desire  to  pursue  the  subject  further  I  dare  say  he  will  un- 
bosom himself  for  your  edification." 

This  couple  and  others  of  like  character  receive  but 
little  consideration  from  the  old  Major.  But  the  Major, 
as  is  well  understood,  retains  some  of  his  old-fashioned 
ideas,  among  which  is  the  homely  belief  that  a  man 
should  be  a  man,  and  a  woman  a  woman — no  more,  no 
less — and  declares  with  characteristic  vehemence, 
"Egad !  what  can  you  do  with  a  woman  who  won't  be 
a  woman,  and  a  man  who  can't  be  a  man  ?  I  say  marry 
'em — marry  'em!  Keep  'em  together  and  they'll  do  no 
harm  to  the  rest  of  the  race.  They're  satisfied  and  no 
one  begrudges  them  their  possessions.  Progeny?  Prog- 
eny? Bah!"  and  the  old  fellow  looks  unutterable  dis- 
gust and  commiseration. 

From  one  subject  to  another  she  gaily  flitted,  rivalling 
even  the  birds  in  the  air  in  her  strange  and  sudden 


i88  MISTER  BILL 

flights  of  thought  and  speech.  Constraint  she  had  flung 
aside  as  a  useless  encumbrance.  She  was  effervescing 
with  the  joy  of  living;  she  was  finding  happiness  in  a 
companionship  such  as  she  had  never  known  before — a 
wild  delirious  happiness  of  which  she  heeded  not  the 
meaning.  It  spoke  from  her  lips ;  it  shone  in  her  eyes ; 
it  rang  in  her  voice;  it  echoed  in  her  silvery  laugh;  it 
radiated  from  her  whole  being.  Life  was  only  just  be- 
ginning. Ah !  what  a  wondrous  thing  is  life — how  good 
— how  sweet — how  precious — how  glorious  a  thing  is  liv- 
ing when  the  flood  gates  of  love  are  suddenly  flung  wide 
apart  and  the  great,  surging,  throbbing  torrent  finds 
entrance  into  hearts  that  are  hungry  for  its  coming. 
Love  lives  in  all  the  things  of  earth !  Love  throbs  in  the 
very  atmosphere!  She  was  learning  its  mystic  lore  and 
revelling  in  its  intoxication — the  awakening  was  for  the 
morrow. 

"Do  you  think  me  terribly  bad?"  she  suddenly  de- 
manded of  her  companion,  "because  I  do,"  answering 
her  own  query.  "I  should  not  say  such  things.  Oh, 
yes!  they  are  unkind — only  I  don't  intend  them  that 
way.  I  am  simply  outdoing  myself  to-day,  but  I  am  go- 
ing to  be  very  good  now." 

"I  trust  my  regeneration  is  not  being  accomplished  at 
too  great  a  sacrifice,"  he  very  considerately  suggested. 

"Oh,  no!"  she  laughed.  "I  quite  enjoy  it  even  if  I 
do  offer  an  occasional  apology  for  myself.  You  may 
consider  this  the  first  of  the  series  in  your  course  of  re- 
generation." 

Wizard's  behavior  for  the  most  part  had  been  fairly 
commendable.  To  be  sure  he  had  made  several  attempts 
to  indulge  his  restless  and  high-strung  spirits  and  only 


MAN'S  REGENERATION  189 

prompt  and  decisive  action  on  the  part  of  his  rider  had 
forestalled  an  impromptu  cross-country  run  or  two.  On 
the  whole,  horse  and  rider  had  arrived  at  a  fairly  good 
understanding  when  they  drew  up  in  front  of  the  house 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  ride.  "There,  John,  you  will 
find  your  charge  a  little  more  tractable  and  amenable 
to  reason,"  said  Waldron,  as  he  handed  Wizard  over  to 
the  groom  who  expressed  honest  satisfaction  that  no  "har- 
rum"  had  been  done. 

"I  possessed  a  well-defined  intention  of  asking  you 
to  call  an  evening  next  week,"  said  Cathalee,  "but  I 
fear  that  I  have  talked  you  into  a  state  of  depression 
from  which  you  are  too  pleased  to  be  delivered  to  again 
surrender  yourself.  However,  if  you  feel  equal  to  the 
ordeal  you  may  come  and  see  me  Thursday  evening. 
Very  well — Thursday  evening.  And  believe  me,  sir,  you 
have  done  Wizard  and  his  mistress  a  very  great  service 
for  which  they  are  truly  grateful — at  least  one  is,  and 
the  other  has  not  expressed  himself  to  the  contrary." 


CHAPTER  XXII 
"ONLY  A  MAN!" 

YOUR  coming  this  evening  is  little  less  than  an 
act  of  mercy,"  she  told  him,  with  gracious 
warmth  of  greeting,  as  she  led  the  way  into  a 
small  and  cosy  room  off  the  hall  where  a  cheer- 
ful fire  blazed  in  the  grate.  "I  have  been  sitting  here 
all  alone  thinking  the  gloomiest  thoughts  that  a  morbid 
mind  could  well  conceive,  and  as  a  result,  I  am  quite  out 
of  conceit  with  myself." 

The  thought  might  have  occurred  to  the  guest  that 
the  mood  of  his  fair  hostess  and  her  environments  were 
not  in  full  accord,  for  surely  if  physical  comforts  were 
conducive  to  peace  of  mind  none  should  be  happier  or 
more  content  than  she. 

"You  may  take  that  easy  chair — I  know  you  have  de- 
signs upon  it;  besides,  I  arranged  it  for  you,  and  one 
for  myself  on  this  side  of  the  grate,"  she  told  him,  with 
simple  frankness.  "I  shall  venture  to  hope  that  you 
may  be  very  comfortable,  and  honestly  glad  you  came, 
and — you  may  smoke." 

"This  is  rank  heresy.  Please  to  remember  that  it  is 
my  re-generation  that  you  have  undertaken." 

"Quite  right.  Still,  you  may  smoke — you  are  the 
master  of  your  destiny  after  all  is  said  and  done." 

"Why  not  concede  as  much  for  yourself?  Or  is  it  a 
190 


"ONLY  A  MAN"  191 

prerogative  of  your  sex  to  be  creatures  of  circumstance 
and — moods  ?" 

"I  presume  you  think  it  strange  that  I  should  be 
other  than  perfectly  happy,  unless  you  chance  to  be  phil- 
osophically inclined,  in  which  case  you  will  understand 
that  one  may  possess  all  the  creature  comforts,  yet  lack 
the  one  great  essential — I  know  not  what  it  may  be — 
without  which  one  may  never  find  contentment.  I  am 
given  to  this  sort  of  thing  occasionally,  and  I  am  glad 
that  you  chanced  to  find  me  in  such  a  mood.  Perhaps 
you  can  diagnose  my  weakness,  and  suggest  a  remedy. 
Besides,  you  will  know  that  I  can  be  serious  upon  oc- 
casion, and  am  not  always  the  rattle-brained  creature  you 
have  just  cause  to  believe  me." 

"I  fear  I  am  but  a  poor  philosopher." 

"I  am  not  so  sure.  I  have  an  idea  that  you  would 
underrate  yourself,  and  permit  others  to  do  the  same, 
so  little  do  you  concern  yourself  with  many  things  which 
seem  to  be  the  aim  and  object  of  most  men.  I  am  at 
a  loss  to  understand  whether  it  is  indifference,  pure  and 
simple,  or  a  self-contained  assurance  of  strength  and 
ability  to  cope  with  the  world,  regardless." 

"I  fear  our  subjects  have  become  confused." 

"I  am  inclined  to  think  that  I  have  yet  to  make 
the  acquaintance  of  the  real  man,"  she  continued,  ap- 
parently unconscious  of  his  remark,  "although  if  I  mis- 
take not,  I  saw  him  that  terrible  night  out  in  the  moun- 
tains, and  again — just  a  fleeting  glimpse — when  he  took 
my  horse  in  hand  and  quietly  but  firmly  broke  his  stub- 
born will,  as  he  would  have  broken  his  pretty  neck  or 
some  portion  of  his  anatomy,  had  he  not  obeyed  him. 
On  the  whole,  I  rather  like  obscure  possibilities  which 


192  MISTER  BILL 

may  pop  out  at  any  moment  and  prove  intensely  inter- 
esting." 

"All  of  which  is  a  lamentable  fall  from  a  very  inter- 
esting to  a  very  commonplace  subject.  This  mood — 
has  it  taken  wings  already?"  he  inquired,  with  kindly 
interest. 

"Very  well,  sir,  since  you  insist  upon  returning  to 
my  moody  self,  the  responsibility  be  on  your  head.  I 
believe  I  have  not  told  you  that  much  of  my  time  is 
given  to  charity  work.  Know  then,  that  I  am  interested 
in  the  general  work,  and  one  little  haven  of  rest  is  en- 
tirely dependent  upon  me  for  its  sustenance.  I  took  up 
this  work  originally,  I  fancy,  because  I  was  fitted  for 
little  else.  A  mere  passive  existence  never  appealed  to 
me.  Society,  very  well  in  its  way,  eventually  became 
stupid  and  inane,  and  a  continued  existence  without 
definite  purpose  seemed  as  unwarrantable  as  undesirable. 
The  stage  was  a  possibility,  but  hardly  a  probability,  my 
mother  holding  the  balance  of  power.  Business  in  any 
form  was  prohibited  for  various  reasons.  So  charity 
seemed  the  most  promising  field  for  my  endeavors. 
Nothing  could  tempt  me  to  go  back  to  my  old  life  of  aim- 
less irresponsibility.  I  merely  existed  then.  Now  I  live 
— live  in  the  consciousness  that,  after  all,  I  am  of  some 
use  among  the  great  mass  of  human  beings  of  which  I 
am  one,  and  not  quite  the  least.  I  hope  you  follow  me, 
otherwise  I  must  seem  deplorably  stupid." 

"You  are  perfectly  clear  and  logical — and  interesting," 
he  assured  her. 

"Well,  then,"  she  continued,  thus  encouraged,  "I  throw 
open  my  house  each  year  and  give  a  sort  of  something 
— never  quite  the  same  in  name,  and  the  name  is  fre- 


"ONLY  A  MAN"  193 

quently  a  misnomer.  The  essential  features,  however, 
are  maintained  with  commendable  persistency,  and  con- 
sist primarily  and  principally,  in  compelling  everybody 
to  stand  and  deliver — hands  up — frankly  and  cordially. 
I  provide  something  in  the  way  of  entertainment,  music 
for  dancing,  and  refreshments.  All  my  friends  take 
tickets,  and  subscribe  various  amounts  according  to  the 
state  of  the  market  they  tell  me — their  extravagance  and 
dissipations,  they  don't  tell  me — all  of  which  have  to  be 
reckoned  with  before  charity.  They  are  really  very  gen- 
erous, although  some,  I  fear,  contribute  under  inward 
protest  and  outward  compulsion.  I  tell  them  that  I  am 
their  good  angel,  and  literally  shower  blessings  upon 
them  in  thus  giving  them  an  opportunity  to  perform 
a  generous  and  kindly  act  for  so  worthy  a  cause.  I  do 
not  think  that  they  all  quite  agree  with  me,  and  some 
would  doubtless  prefer  to  bargain  for  their  own  blessings 
and  more  than  likely  consider  me  a  nuisance.  I  cer- 
tainly dispense  my  blessings  with  a  generous  hand  but 
as  it  is  all  for  a  worthy  cause  my  conscience  suffers  not 
at  all.  By  the  way,  the  affair  this  year  takes  place  in 
two  weeks — you  are  invited,  please  to  remember.  I  shall 
see  that  you  are  duly  and  formally  reminded.  Please 
also  to  remember  that  excuses  don't  go  upon  this  par- 
ticular occasion — death  alone  cancels  the  obligation. 

"All  of  which,"  she  continued,  after  a  short  pause  to 
note  the  effect  upon  her  guest  of  this  very  positive  dec- 
laration, "is  apropos  of  telling  you  how  I  chanced  to 
be  in  my  present  mood.  For  the  most  part  my  exces- 
sive spirits  and  abundant  good  health  enable  me  to  per- 
form my  work  with  little  or  no  embarrassment,  and  only 
occasionally  do  I  lose  control  of  myself  and  become — 


194  MISTER  BILL 

well,  moody.  At  such  times,  however,  I  am  utterly  un- 
able to  throw  off  the  feeling  of  depression  that  comes 
over  me  and  I  am  only  less  miserable  than  the  unfor- 
tunates themselves." 

"I  understand — I  quite  understand,"  he  said,  as  she 
paused  a  moment. 

"Oh,  you  men!  You  men!  What  misery  you  cause! 
I  do  not  mean  that  you  are  responsible  for  all,  but  in 
the  great  majority  of  cases  the  beginning  may  be  traced 
to  you.  Your  very  footsteps  mark  the  way  of  sin,  misery, 
and  death,  in  the  mutilated  forms  and  living  hells  you 
leave  behind.  What  does  it  all  mean?  What  excuse 
do  you  offer  yourselves  ?  What  are  your  prayers  ?  What 
do  you — what  can  you  expect?  How  dare  you  even 
pray?" 

"Prayers — too  many  prayers — are  but  the  rites  of 
the  savage  adapted  to  the  exigencies  of  his  civilized 
brother.  The  letter  and  not  the  spirit  escaped  the  evo- 
lution." 

"What  God — what  conception  of  a  Deity — can  you 
men  possess  that  permits  you  to  bring  such  misery — 
such  pitiable  miserable  misery — into  the  world?  Have 
you  no  better — no  loftier  conception  of  a  Deity  than  the 
savage?  Is  your  God  of  no  finer  parts  than  his  hideous 
monstrosity?  Do  you,  too,  think  to  purchase  immunity 
from  the  righteous  wrath  of  your  God  by  dropping  re- 
luctant tribute  into  the  temple  plate,  even  as  the  unlet- 
tered savage  casts  burnt  offerings  at  the  shrine  of  his 
grinning  joss,  congratulating  yourself  that  the  reckon- 
ing is  paid  in  full,  and  that  your  ill-gotten  gold  is  a 
recompense  for  the  bodies  you  have  maimed,  the  hearts 
you  have  broken,  and  the  lives  you  have  destroyed? 


"ONLY  A  MAN"  195 

Tell  me,  pray,   what  have  you  to  say  for  yourself?" 

"Guilty,  I  fear — guilty  without  extenuating  circum- 
stances." 

"Ah,  yes,  guilty!  We  know  that — but  why?  Why 
are  men  so  cruel — so  selfish — so  unrighteous?" 

"Unfortunately  the  essentials  of  an  alibi  for  my  sex 
are  sadly  lacking.  Your  arraignment  is  as  justified 
as  it  is  scathing — more  could  not  well  be  said.  More- 
over, your  queries  involve  some  of  the  great  problems 
of  life,  and  I  fear  I  am  too  little  competent  to  adjust 
those  profound  matters  to  your  satisfaction.  Moreover, 
again — " 

"I  don't  want  any  more  'moreovers',"  she  petulantly 
interrupted.  "Please  be  serious — I  am,  quite.  I  don't  like 
you  to  say  sarcastic  things  when  I  am  in  earnest,  and  I 
fear  you  are  terribly  capable." 

"The  general  subject  is  prolific  of  countless  theories. 
We  should  doubtless  fail  to  agree  and  fall  to  arguing; 
result,  bad  tempers  and  dissolution  of  friendship.  Dis- 
cretion is  not  the  least  of  wisdom." 

"Please  don't,"  she  protested.  "I  am  not  compelled 
to  agree  with  you,  and  may  not,  as  you  suggest.  Never- 
theless I  should  like  to  know  your  ideas.  Your  life  has 
been  so  radically  different  from  that  of  the  men  I  know, 
it  is  only  fair  to  assume  that  you  possess  ideas  con- 
siderably at  variance  with  theirs  as  well." 

"Alan  offers  little  novelty  for  introspection;  he  is  a 
too  well  thumbed  volume  to  afford  new  sensations,"  he 
briefly  observed,  apparently  not  inclined  to  be  drawn 
into  argument. 

"Besides,"  she  continued,  with  engaging  frankness, 
"I  really  wish  to  know  more  about  you — your  real  self. 


196  MISTER  BILL 

There  is  something  which  persists  in  eluding  me — 
something  of  which  I  am  intensely  conscious  at  times, 
yet  am  unable  to  explain  to  my  satisfaction — my  curiosity 
is  quite  aroused,  you  see." 

"The  situation  is  rapidly  becoming  involved.  Curi- 
osity— a  woman's  curiosity  is  not  to  be  lightly  re- 
garded." 

"Nor  ignored,"  she  declared  very  positively.  "And 
now  you  are  going  to  be  very  civil  and  tell  me  how 
you  came  to  be  so  big  and  strong;  why  you  are  so  in- 
different to  things  and  people ;  how  you  know  so  many 
things  you  are  not  supposed  to  know  anything  about; 
and — and  who  you  really  are,"  she  told  him,  with  a  direct- 
ness of  purpose  not  to  be  mistaken. 

"I  fear  I  shall  have  considerable  difficulty  in  extricating 
myself  from  the  mass  of  contradictions  in  which  I  find 
myself,"  he  replied,  quietly  amused  at  the  frank  avowal 
which  had  come  at  last. 

"You  must  not  laugh  at  me.  You  must  know  that  I 
am  not  prompted  by  mere  idle  curiosity,  but  by  an  honest 
and  sincere  desire  to  know  more  about  you  and  your 
life  from  your  own  lips,"  she  earnestly  protested. 

"What  you  ask  is  no  more  than  is  justly  due  you," 
he  told  her,  more  seriously,  after  an  interval  of  quiet 
contemplation  of  the  flames,  "and  I  will  gladly  tell  you 
anything  that  can  be  of  any  possible  interest  to  you. 
I  hardly  know  where  to  begin,"  he  said,  very  simply, 
"but  if  there  be  anything  of  interest  in  my  life,  it  must 
necessarily  date  from  my  advent  into  the  Western  coun- 
try, as  my  career  up  to  that  time  differed  not  materially 
from  that  of  the  average  New  York  youth." 

"Ah!"  she  softly  sighed. 


"ONLY  A  MAN"  197 

"I  had  completed  but  a  small  portion  of  my  university 
course  when  the  loss  of  both  my  parents — one  following 
the  other  in  quick  succession — and  the  further  loss  of  all 
my  worldly  possessions,  threw  me  upon  my  own  re- 
sources. For  the  first  time  I  was  made  to  feel  the  heavy 
hand  of  misfortune,  and  not  a  few  were  the  rough  edges 
and  sharp  corners  I  ran  against  in  making  the  ac- 
quaintance of  that  new  world  to  which  I  almost  im- 
mediately betook  myself.  In  those  troublous  times  was 
laid  the  foundation  of  such  character  as  I  possess — 
a  process  which  meant  the  making  or  the  breaking  of  the 
youth. 

"This  new  country  was  a  never  failing  source  of 
interest  and  wonderment  to  my  young  mind,  and  many 
lonely  hours  in  the  saddle,  on  the  trail,  and  in  the  quiet 
of  the  night,  were  spent  in  silent  contemplation  of  its 
wondrous  beauties  and  awe-inspiring  mysteries.  The 
marvelous  mountain  ranges  raising  their  heads  high  into 
the  clouds  with  majestic  and  appalling  grandeur,  held  for 
me  a  peculiar  fascination.  And  when  from  some  high 
peak  I  gazed  into  boundless  space  in  any  direction  my 
eyes  chanced  to  roam  but  to  discern  new  wonders  limited 
only  by  the  range  of  my  own  small  vision,  a  great  awe 
and  veneration  would  steal  into  my  soul — a  mute  tribute 
to  the  wondrous  greatness  of  which  I  was  the  merest 
atom.  Instead  of  passing  from  my  mind  as  these 
thoughts  and  scenes  became  more  familiar,  my  men- 
talities began  to  expand,  and  grow  richer  and  stronger 
in  the  contemplation  of  these  wonderful  works  of  na- 
ture, and  the  secret  processes  by  which  she  wrought  in 
her  various  kingdoms.  The  relation  of  man  to  these 
great  laws  was  a  never-ending  source  of  interest  to  me, 


198  MISTER  BILL 

and  in  this  untrammelled  life  I  came  into  close  commun- 
ion with  primitive  nature,  and  seemed  to  breathe  and 
absorb  the  simple  truths  which  had  been  denied  me  in 
the  artificial  life  from  which  I  had  lately  emerged." 

"Yes — yes!"  she  gently  breathed. 

"By  degrees  the  littleness  and  narrowness  of  my  early 
life  dropped  away.  The  countless  envies,  cravings,  pas- 
sions, jealousies  and  strivings,  which  I  had  once  looked 
upon  as  co-existent  with  life,  disappeared  one  after  the 
other,  and  in  their  stead  came  a  depth  and  breadth  of 
thought,  a  health  and  strength  of  mind  and  body  as  free 
and  untrammelled  from  the  confines  of  my  earlier  exist- 
ence as  the  very  air  I  breathed.  Have  I  taken  up  the 
particular  thread  of  interest  to  you?"  he  paused  to  in- 
quire. "Please  be  frank,  as  I  seek  only  to  gratify  your 
desires." 

"Ah,  yes!  Those  are  the  things  above  all  others 
I  would  know,"  she  impulsively  declared.  "I  begin  to 
see — to  understand.  Please  go  on." 

"Man  possesses  possibilities  of  which  he  has  little 
conception,  and  even  less  understanding,  and  it  is  only 
occasionally,  perhaps  by  the  merest  chance,  that  he 
catches  even  a  passing  glimpse  of  his  real  self — the  self 
he  persists  in  hiding  even  from  himself.  I  do  not  know 
that  I  am  altogether  clear.  Perhaps  I  can  give  a  stronger 
point  to  my  meaning  through  the  medium  of  two  inci- 
dents which  came  under  my  notice  not  long  since.  Each 
incident  is  more  eloquent,  more  comprehensive,  more  con- 
vincing of  the  truth  than  volumes  which  might  be  writ- 
ten to  prove  or  disprove  the  same  assertion.  Do  you 
mind  if  I  walk  ?  I  am  more  accustomed  to  keeping  pace 
with  my  thoughts — this  inactivity  is  demoralizing." 


"ONLY  A  MAN"  199 

"Indeed,  no !  Take  the  floor  by  all  means.  I  fear  you 
are  much  too  comfortable  to  be  long  interesting.  We 
are  an  unfortunate  lot,"  she  sighed,  "we  make  a  man 
comfortable,  and  he  falls  asleep  on  our  hands;  we  neg- 
lect his  comfort  and  he  stops  at  his  club.  Please  to 
remember,  sir,  that  you  have  a  very  interested  listener." 

"Life  in  the  mining  camps  and  frontier  towns  of  the 
West  affords  little  in  the  way  of  amusement,  and  the 
advent  of  an  itinerant  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  Company  is 
hailed  as  the  event  of  the  theatrical  season.  On  such  an 
eventful  occasion  occurred  one  of  the  incidents  to  which 
I  refer.  This  particular  company  was  neither  better  nor 
worse  than  others  of  its  kind,  which  is  equivalent  to 
saying  that  it  was  pretty  bad ;  yet  they  serve  a  certain 
and  distinct  purpose.  At  some  stage  of  the  proceedings 
— I  was  paying  little  heed  to  what  was  transpiring  on 
the  stage,  but  you  must  know  that  every  loyal  citizen 
owes  it  to  himself  not  less  than  to  the  community  at 
large  to  be  present  upon  these  auspicious  occasions — a 
girl,  as  uncouth  and  uninteresting  as  may  well  be  con- 
ceived, slouched  out  upon  the  stage.  As  she  came  into 
the  uncertain  glimmer  of  the  tallow  footlights,  she  ap- 
proached dangerously  near  the  ludicrous — in  fact,  she 
quite  arrived.  She  held  a  battered  old  cornet  in  one 
hand,  drew  the  back  of  the  other  across  her  mouth, 
grotesquely  distorted  her  begrimed  features,  stood  upon 
first  one  foot  and  then  the  other,  the  while  she  con- 
templated her  audience  with  manifest  discomfiture.  The 
old  horn  under  most  favorable  conditions  seemed  capable 
of  emitting  little  more  than  a  few  wheezy  tones,  and 
an  already  afflicted  audience  resigned  itself  to  suffer 
further  inflictions  at  the  hands  of  this  grotesque  indi- 


200  MISTER  BILL 

vidual.  She  had  hardly  sounded  the  first  note,  however, 
before  the  audience  was  made  aware  that  too  hasty 
judgment  had  been  accorded.  She  played  several  familiar 
airs  creative  of  interest  on  the  part  of  her  auditors,  grad- 
ually developing  into  manifest  enthusiasm  as  she  pro- 
ceeded, and  when,  with  a  grand  flourish  of  clarion  tones 
and  martial  strains,  she  swung  into  the  grand  old  Star 
Spangled  Banner,  she  seemed  to  strike  an  answering 
chord  in  every  breast,  which  reverberated  again  and  again 
throughout  each  human  organism,  and  communicated  it- 
self to  the  very  atmosphere.  In  an  instant  the  rough 
little  audience  was  in  transports  of  joy,  and  when  she 
finally  concluded  her  performance  with  Home  Sweet 
Home,  every  man,  woman  and  child  was  under  the  magic 
spell  of  her  song — joy  was  unconfined.  Grizzled  old 
miners  grasped  hands  and  hugged  one  another  like  long 
lost  brothers  under  the  influence  of  this  sudden  outpour- 
ing of  spirit,  and  tears  rolled  down  rough  and  hardened 
faces  long  since  strangers  to  such  emotions.  The  few 
who  possessed  wives  became  suddenly  conscious  of  a 
greater  appreciation  for  their  helpmates.  Children  were 
grasped  in  strong  arms  and  held  aloft,  and  various  other 
antics  indulged  which  could  only  be  performed  by  human 
beings  under  stress  of  a  strong  innate  volition. 

"It  was  good  to  see — more — it  was  grand  and  glorious, 
and  never  to  be  forgotten.  It  was  not  a  mere  demonstra- 
tion of  rough  and  uncouth  men  and  women — pioneers 
and  wanderers  in  that  wild  country  who  chanced  to  be 
amused — it  was  the  real  man  and  woman  within — the 
spirit  of  nature,  of  God — the  same  that  is  within  you 
and  me,  suddenly  awakened  without  volition  of  the  in- 
dividual by  the  clarion  tones  and  sweet  refrains.  It 


"ONLY  A  MAN"  201 

mattered  not  whence  came  those  sounds.  That  they  were 
blown  through  a  battered  horn  by  a  freak  of  a  girl  pos- 
sessed no  meaning.  It  was  the  song  they  sang  that 
spoke  to  the  man  within,  and  souls  burst  forth  in  quick 
response  and  glad  acclaim,  freed  from  the  bondage  of 
the  sordid,  the  artificial,  and  attuned  for  the  time  to  the 
inspiration  of  love  and  fraternal  spirit — the  real — the 
true — the  natural." 

"Ah,  yes!"  she  impulsively  exclaimed,  in  full  accord 
with  the  spirit  of  the  incident.  "It  was — it  must  have 
been  grand  and  glorious !  It  was  good  to  catch  even 
a  passing  glimpse  of  real  men  and  women.  And  how 
well  you  tell  it — I  can  fancy  it  all." 

"For  days  after,  the  effect  upon  the  dwellers  of  the 
Httle  hamlet  was  manifest.  Hearts  were  lighter  and 
work  seemed  less  irksome.  Whistle  and  song  were  in 
the  very  air.  Hearty  good  will  rang  in  the  salutations 
of  man  to  his  fellows.  Even  the  sun  seemed  to  cast  a 
softer  and  a  warmer  and  brighter  glow  on  old  earth.  The 
cornet  girl  had  gone  her  way,  but  the  joy  of  her  song  still 
lingered  in  the  hearts  of  men. 

"The  other  incident.  Some  weeks  later  a  revivalist 
came  to  the  camp.  Meetings  were  held  and  a  religious 
fervor  was  stimulated  according  to  prescribed  forms. 
The  exhortations  continued  with  unabated  vigor  for  a 
week  or  more.  Converts  were  made,  others  interested, 
excited  or  frenzied  to  varying  degrees.  Doubt  and  anx- 
iety were  soon  depicted  upon  the  features  of  young  and 
old  who  were  identified  with  the  movement.  There  was 
no  whistle  and  song,  or  hearty  laugh  and  passing 
joke.  Hearts  were  heavy  and  tense.  The  spring  of 
natural  and  joyous  spirit  had  been  dammed  at  its  very 


202  MISTER  BILL 

fount,  and  eternal  damnation  awaited  those  unfortunates 
who  refused  to  accept  in  blind  faith  the  bigoted  and 
blasphemous  doctrine  of  pagan  superstition  and  idolatry 
— the  sole  salvation  of  the  children  of  a  wise  and  benefi- 
cent Creator.  The  vain  reasoning — the  conflict  of  hope 
and  despair  was  pitiful  to  behold.  There  was  nothing 
tangible — nothing  real.  No  inner  consciousness  pointed 
the  way — nothing  appealed  to  the  self  within.  All  was 
forced  and  unnatural— everything  dark  and  mysterious. 
One  small  child — poor  soul — took  her  religion  so  seri- 
ously that  her  sleeping  as  well  as  her  waking  hours 
were  given  over  to  piteous  lamentations.  Her  parents 
simplified  matters  somewhat  by  withdrawing  from  the 
movement;  they  might  be  willing  to  suffer  themselves, 
but  could  not  believe  it  their  duty  or  even  their  privilege 
to  torment  their  child. 

"Note  the  difference.  Which  was  the  true — which 
was  the  false?  Which  was  the  natural — which  was  the 
artificial?  Which  was  common  sense — which  should 
never  be  lost  sight  of — and  which  was  devoid  of  sense? 
The  spirit  of  life,  of  love — the  great  universal  spirit — 
should  be  allowed  a  free  and  natural  expression  in  every 
human  being;  anything  less  is  a  flagrant  perversion  of 
the  primary  essentials  of  human  existence.  Every  liv- 
ing thing  abides  the  law  of  its  creation  except  man, 
who  persistently  refuses  to  conform  to  the  law  of  his 
being,  but  insists  upon  trying  to  improve,  and  only  suc- 
ceeds in  surrounding  with  doubt,  confusion,  and  dark- 
ness as  he  steps  beyond  that  which  he  knows  and 
theorizes  upon  that  which  he  does  not  know,  and  more- 
over, is  not  essential  that  he  should  know.  A  homely 
simile,  but  entirely  true  in  all  respects,  and  I  trust  clearly 


"ONLY  A  MAN"  203 

illustrative  of  the  ideas  I  have  endeavored  to  express." 
"Clear,  indeed!  It  has  driven  home  a  no  less  homely 
truth.  It  is  true — undeniably  true — that  we  confuse  our- 
selves with  endless  problems  and  perplexities  beyond  our 
power  to  comprehend  when,  if  we  did  but  know,  the 
simple — the  natural  of  our  being — is  all  sufficient  for  our 
requirements  if  we  but  gave  it  an  opportunity  for  a  full 
and  tree  expression.  Shall  we  ever  become  masters  of 
ourselves — of  our  destinies?"  she  sighed,  despairingly. 

"Yes,  we  shall  become  masters  of  our  destinies  when 
we  work  as  hard  and  as  conscientiously  to  develop  those 
same  innate  possibilities  as  we  now  labor  to  pervert  and 
to  stultify  them.  When  we  realize  that  there  is  a  higher 
law  than  the  will  of  man ;  that  there  is  a  greater  victory 
than  the  triumph  of  one  human  being  over  another ;  that 
there  is  no  superiority  of  sex,  but  that  each  has  its  own 
part  to  perform  in  the  great  universal  plan,  then  shall 
we  have  begun  the  development  of  the  real  man,  and 
to  the  extent  we  succeed  shall  we  become  masters  of 
ourselves  and  our  destinies.  Man's  education  has  put 
him  in  bondage  to  the  almighty  dollar — he  is  the  ex- 
pression of  his  social  condition  rather  than  his  man- 
hood. His  higher  faculties,  of  which  he  is  hardly  con- 
scious, have  been  sacrificed  to  unnatural  ambitions,  and 
to  the  gratification  of  appetites  and  passions  of  his  own 
cultivation — he  is  but  the  anomaly  of  his  real  self.  Bit- 
ter as  are  his  experiences,  and  as  flagrant  as  are  his  viola- 
tions of  law  and  order,  he  pauses  not  to  heed  the  lesson, 
but  bitterly  bewails  God's  inhumanity  to  man,  and  rushes 
madly  on  to  his  inglorious  end.  He  is  the  same  old  man, 
with  the  same  old  appetite,  and  he  would  evade  his  re- 
sponsibilities in  the  same  old  way.  To  woman — long- 


204  MISTER  BILL 

suffering,  patient,  gentle  woman — all  honor,  all  praise 
is  due  for  the  restraining  influence  she  exerts  over  the 
erring  partner  of  her  existence,  and  to  her  will  eventually 
come  humanity's  greater  blessing  when  her  voice  of 
piteous  protest  is  heeded,  and  she  is  permitted  to  lead 
the  way  to  a  better  and  a  truer  life — the  rightful  heritage 
of  every  one  of  her  children." 

All  unconscious  of  her  attitude  of  pretty,  pensive  in- 
terest; unconscious  of  the  dancing  lights  and  shadows 
playing  upon  her  sweet,  serious  face,  anon  leaping  higher 
and  making  mystic  signs  and  passes  above  her  shapely 
head ;  unconscious  of  all  save  the  man  pacing  slowly 
back  and  forth  whose  habitual  indifference  had  gradually 
disappeared  since  first  he  began  to  speak,  and  in  its 
stead  had  come  an  irresistible  strength  of  thought  and 
speech  telling  her  no  less  plainly  than  his  words  whence 
came  that  power  of  which  she  was  so  strangely  con- 
scious, and  his  final  words  ringing  with  the  force  of 
his  manly  convictions  thrilled  her  feminine  sensibilities 
almost  beyond  control,  and  suffused  her  fair  face  with 
conscious  blushes. 

"I  knew  it!  I  knew  you  were  a  good  man — I  felt  it 
from  the  very  first!"  she  cried,  impulsively.  "It  is  all 
clear  to  me  now — you  are  a  man!  Only  a  man!  I  was 
confused  by  the  very  simplicity  of  the  problem.  Yet  is 
it  so  strange,  after  all,  when  we  are  surrounded  on  all 
sides  by  human  beings  so  bound  and  fettered  by  the 
artificialties  of  man-made  laws,  that  we  look  askance — 
nay,  almost  with  suspicion — upon  one  of  God's  creatures, 
who  chances  to  be  delivered  from  the  errors  and  weak- 
nesses of  his  fellows,  and  lives  in  the  strength  and  full- 
ness of  his  divine  endowment — his  own,  his  true  posses- 


"ONLY  A  MAN"  205 

sions.  Oh!  that  we  might  all  shake  off  these  burden- 
some chains  and  shackles,  and  be  ourselves — just  true 
men  and  women." 

And  while  the  firelight  danced  and  flickered  and  shed 
its  warmth  and  glow,  a  silence  fell  upon  the  scene — 
a  silence  that  spoke  more  eloquently  than  tongue  or 
words. 

"Ah!"  she  gently  sighed,  gazing  pensively  into  the 
flames,  "but  you  could  help  me  so  much — if  you  would. 
You  are  so  big,  so  strong,  so  good,  and  you  know  the 
world  and  poor  humanity  so  well.  And  just  to  think," 
slowly  diverting  her  gaze  from  the  flames,  and  looking 
up  at  him  with  a  smile  of  sweet  womanly  confession, 
'.'just  to  think,  all  the  while  I  flattered  myself  that  I  was 
the  far  more  worldly  wise.  Truly  it  is  my  regenera- 
tion that  should  be  undertaken.  And  I  think,"  she  said, 
not  without  some  confusion,  her  gaze  again  seeking  the 
flames  perhaps  to  hide  the  telltale  flushes,  "I  think — in- 
deed, I  am  quite  sure — my  curiosity  has  been  appeased 
at  last." 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
ORDERS 

EXCITEMENT  was  once  more  running  high  in 
the  little  mountain  mining  town.  Notices  had 
been  posted  at  mid-day  notifying  all  whom  it 
might  concern  that  after  that  day  and  date  all 
the  works  operating  under  the  management  of  The  Con- 
solidated Properties  would  be  run  on  half  time  until 
further  notice.  That  night  down  in  the  town  speculation 
ran  riot  as  to  the  meaning  of  this  sudden  and  unexpected 
move  on  the  part  of  the  directors  of  the  company.  The 
news  spread  like  wildfire  over  the  mountains  and  down 
into  the  valley  and  sent  horseman  after  horseman  gal- 
loping into  town  raising  a  cloud  of  dust  which  hung 
over  the  little  community  like  a  funeral  pall.  On  the 
street  corners,  in  the  stores,  restaurants,  saloons,  and 
down  in  the  dance  houses,  it  was  the  all  absorbing  topic 
of  conversation. 

Rumors  flew  thick  and  fast,  some  attributing  the  shut- 
down to  the  Eastern  Syndicate  which  had  at  last  se- 
cured the  advantage  it  had  so  long  sought.  Others  sug- 
gested a  depleted  treasury  owing  to  the  inability  of 
the  company  to  realize  on  its  stock.  Still  others  told 
of  worked  out  veins,  and  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the 
directors  to  withhold  this  knowledge  from  the  public. 
Whatever  might  be  the  difficulty  it  was  generally  con- 

206 


ORDERS  207 

ceded  that  any  misfortune  to  Consolidated  Properties  was 
a  calamity  to  the  community  at  large  as  the  whole  dis- 
trict would  once  more  be  at  the  mercy  of  its  old  enemy, 
the  Eastern  Syndicate.  A  gloom  as  heavy  as  the  dust 
laden  atmosphere  had  fallen  over  the  little  community. 

Later  in  the  evening  a  mysterious  rumor  began  to 
gain  currency  that  the  present  embarrassing  position  of 
the  company  might  be  attributed  to  a  deeply  laid  plot 
on  the  part  of  the  original  promoters  of  the  Properties 
to  dispossess  the  present  owners.  No  one  seemed  able 
to  trace  the  rumor  to  its  source,  and  the  very  mystery 
surrounding  its  origin  seemed  to  give  it  greater  credence. 

Other  rumors  of  an  equally  mysterious  origin  began 
to  make  their  appearance  reflecting  more  or  less  dis- 
creditably upon  the  absent  head  of  the  company.  Some 
very  heated  arguments  resulted  and  bloodshed  was 
averted  only  from  the  fact  that  no  one  seemed  willing 
to  openly  stand  sponsor  for  these  rumors  against  a  man 
who  was  not  present  to  defend  himself. 

The  directors  of  the  company  who  were  on  the  ground 
had  nothing  satisfactory  to  offer  in  reply  to  the  oft  re- 
peated inquiries  and  insistent  demands  as  to  the  meaning 
of  their  action,  and  the  silence  they  steadfastly  main- 
tained, even  in  the  face  of  some  very  uncomplimentary 
expressions  reflecting  upon  their  management,  was 
ominous  in  itself.  It  soon  became  evident  that  they  could 
not,  or  would  not,  divulge  the  cause  of  their  strange 
move,  and  the  conclusion  was  reluctantly  accepted  that 
the  company  was  in  financial  difficulties,  and  that  one  or 
the  other  of  the  powerful  moneyed  interests  had  at  last 
secured  a  death  hold  on  the  corporation. 

As  the  night  wore  on  the  excitement  subsided  some- 


208  MISTER  BILL 

wliat,  the  conservative  members  of  the  community  sought 
their  rest,  and  things  went  their  wonted  way.  Down  in 
shanty-town  the  fiddles  squeaked  and  the  pianos  tinkled 
discordantly.  The  lights  flickered  and  flared  and  seemed 
affected  by  the  general  air  of  depression.  Along  the 
main  street  a  confusion  of  sound  was  wafted  out  on 
the  heavy  atmosphere.  Voices  became  thick  and  gut- 
tural, and  an  occasional  hoarse  laugh  or  wild  yell  told 
plainly  that  "Old  Red  Eye"  and  his  rum  companion 
"Forty  Rod"  were  making  their  presence  felt.  Now 
and  then  one  of  the  rough  fellows  would  break  away 
from  his  companions,  mount  his  horse  and  ride  away 
into  the  night.  The  dice  rattled,  the  roulette  wheels 
clicked,  and  the  fiddles  droned  on  dismally  into  the  heavy 
morning  hours. 

The  orders  to  place  the  works  on  reduced  time  came 
no  less  suddenly  to  the  directors  than  to  the  townspeo- 
ple, nor  were  they  any  wiser  as  to  the  real  cause  thereof, 
or  of  the  result  to  be  accomplished  by  this  move.  "Down 
she  goes !"  Dave  had  unhesitatingly  declared,  when  he 
had  seen  with  his  own  eyes  the  brief  instructions  from 
the  President  of  the  company. 

"Them's  the  orders — plain  as  day,"  Joe  affirmed  with 
equal  positiveness,  after  a  prolonged  study  of  the 
letter. 

"There'll  be  the  devil  to  pay  down  below,"  said  an- 
other of  the  directors,  who  chanced  to  be  present,  nod- 
ding his  head  towards  the  town. 

"There'll  be  worse  nor  him  to  pay  up  here,  if  we 
don't,"  said  Dave,  with  deep  significance.  "Get  out  the 
notices,  and  we'll  start  her  to  goin'.  Can't  set  things 
to  bilin'  too  quick  to  suit  me." 


ORDERS  209 

"Might  as  well  touch  her  off  ourselves  if  there's  any 
blowin'  up  to  be  done,"  said  Joe,  with  commendable 
resignation.  "I  reckon  somebody  may  be  goin'  up  along 
with  us — all  this  ain't  jest  to  amuse  us." 

"Likely  to  please  some  folks  a  mighty  sight,  or  I 
ain't  much  at  guessin',"  said  Dave. 

"Tenderfoot  and  his  pals,  I  'low  you  mean?"  queried 
Joe,  to  which  Dave  nodded  his  assent. 

"That's  the  rope  he's  givin'  'em,"  said  Dave.  "All 
they've  got  to  do  now  is  to  tangle  theirselves  up  in  it. 
Tenderfoot  don't  dare  show  his  head  in  camp,  but  he 
ain't  far  off,  and  he'll  know  what's  goin'  on  soon 
enough." 

"I  suspicioned  Mister  Bill  wan't  doin'  all  that  thinkin' 
for  nothin',  but  I  'low1  that  Tenderfoot  business  was 
too  much  for  me.  Has  to  be  a  hole  in  a  grindstone  for 
me  to  see  through,"  said  Joe. 

Accompanying  the  orders  concerning  the  works  was 
a  well  defined  suggestion  that  Dave  and  Joe  might  feel 
inclined  to  pay  the  East  their  long  anticipated  visit.  The 
writer  would  be  able  to  devote  considerable  attention 
to  them,  and  all  things  considered,  the  opportunity 
seemed  more  favorable  than  might  occur  again. 

"What's  that  mean?"  demanded  Joe. 

"Means  he  wants  us  to  come — them's  our  orders — 
couldn't  be  no  plainer,"  replied  Dave,  with  gruff  good 
nature. 

"What  do  you  reckon  he  wants  us  back  there  for? 
We  can't  do  him  no  good." 

"Dunno.  Maybe  he  wants  to  get  us  away  from  here, 
seein'  as  how  there  ain't  much  of  anything  for  us  to 


210  MISTER  BILL 

do  jest  now  except  to  get  into  trouble — or  talk  too  much 
— which  ain't  no  ways  unlikely." 

"Guess  you're  right,"  said  Joe,  after  thinking  it  over 
for  a  while.  "That's  jest  his  way  of  puttin'  it — mighty 
perlite,  'pears  to  me." 

"He's  too  perlite  to  say  what  he  thinks — maybe  it 
wouldn't  sound  so  well  to  us,  neither.  A  hint's  good  as 
a  kick  from  some  folks." 

"Coin'?"  queried  Joe. 

"Sure — nothin'  else  to  do.     Orders  are  orders." 

"No  use  buttin'  agin  that,"  Joe  solemnly  conceded. 

The  following  morning  when  Dave  appeared  at  the 
office  somewhat  later  than  was  his  custom,  he  was  in 
no  very  amiable  frame  of  mind — strictly  speaking,  he 
was  mad. 

"I  'lowed  Mister  Bill  knew  what  he  was  about  when 
he  wanted  to  get  us  away  from  here,"  he  growled.  "All 
settled  down  below  that  we're  dead  ones.  It's  the  hardest 
work  I've  done  in  many  a  day  to  keep  from  runnin'  foul 
of  some  of  them  chaps  that  seem  to  know  so  much  about 
our  business,  and  are  kind  of  dirty  about  it,  jest  'cause 
they  think  we're  done  for.  Strange  how  some  folks 
get  so  much  courage  all  to  once  when  they  think  a  feller 
has  lost  his  grip." 

"Don't  mean  nothin' — not  worth  botherin'  our  heads 
about.  Let  'em  carry  on  for  a  spell — our  turn'll  come 
afore  long,"  Joe  philosophically  observed,  evidently 
thinking  it  desirable  to  maintain  an  equilibrium  of  tem- 
pers. 

"Daylight  is  jest  achin'  to  get  into  some  of  their  hides. 
But  that  don't  happen  to  be  part  of  this  'ere  game,  as  I 
understand  it,"  said  Dave,  more  calmly. 


ORDERS  211 

"Not  as  I  know  of.  This  'ere  is  a  gentleman's  game, 
and  we  ain't  supposed  to  do  any  mixin'.  We're  jest  per- 
litely  asked  to  do  the  heavy  lookin'  on,  and  I  reckon 
we'd  better  try  our  level  best  to  do  it,  even  if  it  does  go 
agin  the  grain,"  said  Joe. 

"Reckon  we  had.  I  'low  Mister  Bill  has  trouble 
enough  without  loadin'  him  up  with  any  of  our  makin'," 
Dave  agreed. 

"Better  tell  him  his  invite  is  taken  up,  and  we'll  take 
the  trail  soon  as  we  can  round  up  our  traps.  He's  done 
the  handsome  askin'  a  couple  of  rough  old  chaps  like  us 
to  go  back  there — like  enough  we'll  put  the  kerbosh  on 
him  to  the  limit,"  Joe  seriously  opined. 

"Some  liberties  were  taken  with  Dave's  dictation,  but 
as  given  to  the  stenographer,  it  would  have  read  about 
as  follows: 

"Old  Consolidated  is  limpin'  along  on  half  time  'cord- 
in'  to  orders.  It's  took  like  the  itch — no  discountin'  that. 
There's  plenty  to  say  I  told  you  so — they're  allus  on 
hand.  Some  are  afeared  maybe  you've  been  caught  in 
a  trap.  Kinder  looks  that  way  to  a  chap  up  a  tree,  so 
you  can't  blame  'em  so  much.  They  sort  of  agree  that 
we're  broke — plumb  worked  out — and  we  ain't  sayin'  no 
different.  Folks  are  beginning  to  wonder  what  has  be- 
come of  you,  and  there's  some  the  same  as  say  you  were 
feared  to  stay  and  face  the  music,  and  lit  out — but  they 
ain't  sayin'  it  very  hard.  The  chap  as  started  that  yarn 
must  have  took  to  the  woods,  leastwise  he  ain't  takin'  no 
trouble  to  make  himself  known." 

"Joe  and  me  don't  so  much  like  the  idee  of  diggin'  out 
jest  this  time,  as  it  kinder  looks  like  we  might  be  run- 
nin'  away  from  somethin'  we're  afeared  of,  but  we're 


212  MISTER  BILL 

obeyin'  orders,  and  ain't  askin'  no  questions.  We'll  break 
camp  to-morrow  night,  and  you  can  figger  out  about 
the  time  we're  likely  to  strike  old  New  York.  Maybe 
you'd  best  be  on  the  watch  for  us  seein'  as  how  we'll  be 
the  worst  kind  of  tenderfeet.  So  long." 

"I  ain't  sayin'  so  much  as  I  might,  but  that's  enough 
.to  give  him  an  idee  what's  goin'  on,"  Dave  explained, 
when  he  had  finished  his  dictation. 

"More'n  likely  he  knows  it  now — all  he  cares  to  know. 
Them  cusses  have  been  usin'  the  wires  afore  now,,  and 
tellin'  the  crowd  back  there  what's  goin'  on.  Mister 
Bill  is  watchin'  'em  sharp  enough  to  know  whether 
they've  bit  or  not — he  ain't  waitin'  for  Uncle  Sam  to  tell 
him  about  that,"  said  Joe. 

"I  reckon.  Don't  make  much  difference  what  we  do 
so  long  as  we  keep  our  mouths  shut,  and  our  fingers  out 
of  the  dough." 

About  this  time  another  letter  relative  to  the  same 
general  subject  was  speeding  on  its  way  to  the  same 
destination. 
"Dear  Mister  Bill: 

"Your  letter  was  so  entirely  like  a  man.  Why  do 
men  who  are  really  deserving  of  serious  consideration 
persist  in  living  so  entirely  within  themselves?  They 
make  a  grave  mistake.  No  human  being  is  or  can  be, 
so  entirely  self-sufficient  that  he  can  afford  to  exclude 
from  his  life  those  who  are  honestly  interested  in  him 
and  his  work — he  is  simply  defying  a  law  that  is  greater 
than  himself.  On  the  particular  subject  which  interests 
me  the  most,  you  hardly  say  a  word.  I  don't  think  it 
quite  fair.  However,  I  refuse  to  consider  myself  per- 
sonally affronted,  and  for  the  present  shall  attribute  your 


ORDERS  213 

apparent  lack  of  confidence  in  me  to  the  misfortune — 
from  a  man's  standpoint — of  my  birth.  Yet  this  is  not 
altogether  a  satisfactory  explanation,  as  I  had  some- 
time since  conceded  myself  the  right  of  being  judged  by 
my  own  individual  worthiness,  rather  than  by  the  stand- 
ard of  sex.  But,  alas !  Do  as  she  may,  a  woman  never 
seems  able  to  disassociate  herself  from  the  incontro- 
vertible fact  that  she  is  a  woman,  and  must  suffer  the 
eternal  consequences. 

"Very  well,  sir,  as  you  refuse  to  meet  me  half  way, 
I  shall  take  the  middle  ground,  and  regale  you  with  a 
brief  mention  of  some  of  the  more  conspicuous  features 
of  the  situation  as  they  appear  to  a  disinterested  ob- 
server. First  and  foremost,  matters  seem  to  be  rapidly 
approaching  a  climax — dark  forebodings  are  in  the  air. 
Something  is  about  to  transpire;  what,  when,  where  or 
how,  I  haven't  the  remotest  idea,  except  that  it  is  to  be 
the  final  act  of  a  drama  in  which  youth  and  innocence 
are  to  go  down  in  defeat  unless,  perchance,  the  hero 
turns  the  tables  on  his  persecutors  at  the  last  moment. 
Will  he? 

"Your  opponents  maintain  an  air  of  mystery  equal  to 
your  own — neither  of  you  intend  to  be  betrayed  by  a 
woman.  They  have  become  positively  hilarious — ag- 
gressively so.  Even  dad  seems  to  have  become  infected 
with  the  prevailing  sentiment. — I  am  becoming  quite 
concerned  about  him.  I  could  almost  think  that  he  had 
gone  over  to  the  enemy — I  am  seriously  contemplating 
such  a  move  myself. 

"I  fear  I  am  not  very  encouraging — I  am  in  rather 
bad  form  to-day,  I  must  admit.  But  what  can  be  ex- 
pected of  a  girl  who  has  been  calmly  set  aside  and  given 


214  MISTER  BILL 

to  understand  that  there  is  serious  business  afoot — or 
in  hand — much  too  serious  to  be  entrusted  to  her.  I 
have  fallen  considerably  below  par  in  my  own  estima- 
tion, and — well,  you  may  as  well  know — I  am  angry. 
Oh,  yes!  I  can  see  you  smile — a  woman's  anger  is  such 
a  trifling  thing. 

"And  now  that  I  have  said  what  I  really  intended 
to  say,  I  shall  leave  you  to  reflect  upon  your  conduct. 
I  need  not  say  that  I  wish  you  success  most  heartily, 
even  if  I  do  find  it  somewhat  difficult  to  sign  myself, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

EVIS  GODDARD." 

"P.  S.  I  am  not  real  angry,  but  I  should  like  to  know 
what  is  going  on,  and  I  don't  like  my  information  second 
hand  from  the  very  people  I  do  so  dislike." 


CHAPTER  XXIV 
A  "REAL  AND  TRULY"  STORY 

DAVE  and  Joe  arrived  from  the  West  on 
schedule  time,  and  immediately  set  about  mak- 
ing the  acquaintance  of  the  great  city,  and 
gratifying  curiosities  and  desires  of  long  stand- 
ing. For  the  most  part  they  maintained  a  mien  of  quiet 
imperturbability,  their  rough  bronzed  countenances  giv- 
ing little  indication  of  what  was  transpiring  in  their 
minds.  Their  visit  to  the  Stock  Exchange,  one  of  the 
first  places  to  which  their  curiosity  led  them,  was 
productive  of  a  fairly  free  expression  of  their  impres- 
sions of  that  particular  institution.  They  had  heard 
many  strange  and  wonderful  tales  of  this  great  money 
mart  where  the  finances  of  the  nation  were  turned  topsy- 
turvy, and  where  men  jumped  from  poverty  and  ob- 
scurity to  wealth  and  renown  in  an  incredibly  short  space 
of  time.  Besides,  they  felt  something  of  a  personal  in- 
terest in  the  place  which  they  understood  would  sooner 
or  later  be  the  scene  of  a  "round  up,"  in  which  they 
would  be  vitally  interested.  By  special  request,  there- 
fore, Waldron  took  them  up  into  the  visitors'  gallery 
from  where  they  surveyed  the  throng  of  clamorous  men 
and  scurrying  messenger  boys  for  a  full  quarter  of  an 
hour  without  uttering  a  syllable. 

"Our  scrap  goin'  to  be  pulled  off  down  there?"  Joe 

215 


216  MISTER  BILL 

was  finally  moved  to  inquire,  and  receiving  a  nod  in 
the  affirmative,  again  turned  his  attention  below. 

"I've  seen  packs  of  gray-backs  snappin'  and  snarlin' 
and  yawlin'  over  a  carcass  afore  now,  but  I  never  'lowed 
to  see  human  folks — them  as  is  eddicated  up  to  the  top 
notch — goin'  through  the  same  maneuvers,"  Dave  sol- 
emnly affirmed,  as  he  gazed  upon  the  strange  scene.  "I 
reckon  there's  a  strain  of  the  same  blood  that  one  or 
the  other  of  us  ain't  outgrown — don't  seem  to  be  runnin' 
out  much  neither  far  as  I  can  see." 

"I  'low  I'm  kinder  disappointed,"  Joe  reluctantly  ad- 
mitted. "It  ain't  jest  what  I  expected  to  see  considerin' 
all  the  fuss  made  about  it.  If  Tenderfoot  or  some  no 
account  chap  like  him  was  down  there  to  start  'em  all 
to  goin'  disagreeable  like,  might  be  some  sense  in  it." 

"If  I  was  mad  as  some  of  them  chaps  'pear  to  be  I 
reckon  there'd  be  somethin'  doin'  besides  hollerin'  the 
top  of  my  head  off  about  it,"  said  Dave,  with  ill  con- 
cealed disgust.  "Let's  mosey,"  he  suggested,  a  few  min- 
utes later,  his  curiosity  apparently  satisfied.  "No  use 
gettin'  riled  up  over  any  argyment  we  can't  take  a  hand 
in.  This  'ere's  a  gentleman's  game,  and  that  lets  us  out 
— an'  I  'low  my  feelin's  ain't  much  hurt,"  he  added,  as  he 
shot  a  parting  glance  below. 

"Guess  they  don't  need  our  help  nohow — nobody 
'pears  to  be  gettin'  hurt.  Looks  like  they're  all  tryin'  to 
frighten  each  other  to  death — them  as  ain't  settin'  around 
tuckered  out  like,"  was  Joe's  final  observation,  as  he 
turned  away. 

Miss  Edith  Winston  had  promptly  expressed  an  en- 
thusiastic desire  to  meet  these  men  of  the  West,  when 
she  had  learned  of  their  proposed  visit.  Her  desire,  so 


A  "REAL  AND  TRULY"  STORY  217 

long  possessed,  to  behold  a  real  and  truly  Westerner, 
had  not  as  yet  been  gratified.    Mr.  Waldron  had  utterly 
failed  to  satisfy  the  fastidious  ideas  of  the  young  miss. 
She  liked  Mr.  Waldron — very  much  indeed ;  but  she  was 
speaking  of   something  quite   different.     Mr.   Waldron 
might  be  a  New  Yorker,  for  all  one  could  say  to  the 
contrary,  and  surely  a  real  and  truly  Westerner  must 
be  a  creature  of  entirely  different  parts.     She  wanted 
to  see  the  sort  of  men  she  had  read  about — great  big 
strapping  men  who  carried  those  terrifying  and  death- 
dealing  guns.     Men  who  rode  for  days  and  weeks  on 
lonely  trails  and  discovered  rich  mines.    Men  who  fought 
Indians  and  highwaymen — in  short,  the  typical  men  of 
the  plains  and  mountains. 

Mr.  Waldron  seemed  ever  willing  to  gratify  the 
slightest  wish  of  this  little  maid,  and  she  was  one  day  in- 
formed that  her  oft-repeated  desire  to  behold  a  wild  and 
woolly  Westerner  should  be  appeased.  Cathalee  had  also 
expressed  a  similar  desire,  all  seemingly  interested  in 
these  rough  strangers,  friends  of  their  friend. 

David  Bishop  and  Joseph  Sutter  were  truly  typical 
Westerners ;  not,  however,  of  the  type  commonly  con- 
ceded to  drink  distilled  lightning,  shoot  at  sight,  ride 
their  horses  into  saloons,  and  clean  out  whole  towns. 
They  were  men  born  and  bred  in  the  West  who  early 
in  life  had  discovered  the  necessity  for  a  law-abiding  ele- 
ment even  in  that  wild  country,  and  ranging  themselves 
on  the  side  of  law  and  order,  had  steadfastly  maintained 
their  ground,  and  fought  for  it  when  circumstances  de- 
manded, which  not  infrequently  happened.  They  were 
reckoned  as  sharp  and  shrewd  mining  men.  They  had 
made  and  lost  fortunes,  which  was  no  reflection  on  their 


2i8  MISTER  BILL 

abilities,  as  such  happenings  were  of  every  day  occur- 
ence,  and  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  wisest  and  shrewdest. 
They  had  invariably  landed  on  their  feet,  which  was 
the  real  test,  and  were  never  long  the  victims  of  cir- 
cumstance. 

Joe  Sutter  knew  little  of  the  sex  feminine,  and  was 
inclined  to  be  rather  ill  at  ease  in  the  company  of  "high 
class  gals,"  so  Waldron  and  Jack  very  considerately 
came  to  his  rescue,  and  took  him  for  a  tramp  along  the 
shore,  which  was  more  in  his  line,  and  vastly  more  to 
his  liking. 

David  Bishop,  on  the  contrary,  took  to  woman's  so- 
ciety like  a  courtier,  much  to  the  wonderment  of  his 
friend  Joe,  who  "  'lowed  Dave  allus  was  a  shifty  crit- 
ter." As  for  the  young  miss,  her  wish  was  gratified 
at  last.  These  men  would  do  very  well.  They  were 
quite  all  her  fancy  had  pictured — they  were  the  genuine 
article  so  far  as  her  limited  knowledge  availed.  Their 
forms  of  speech  were  certainly  characteristic  of  the  West- 
ern country,  and  conformed  to  her  preconceived  ideas 
as  well  as  could  be  expected.  To  be  sure,  some  very 
strange  expressions  worked  their  way  into  the  conversa- 
tion now  and  again,  but  they  caused  no  embarrassment 
whatever;  a  halt  was  immediately  called  and  the  com- 
plexity removed  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  little  miss  be- 
fore the  conversation  was  suffered  to  go  on,  affording1 
no  little  amusement  for  the  rough  fellows,  and  tending 
to  make  them  feel  more  at  ease  than  the  more  formal, 
but  no  less  well  intended  efforts  of  the  elders.  Their 
exteriors  were  rough,  but  they  were  warm  hearted  and 
good  natured,  she  was  sure,  and — well,  they  were  friends 


A  "REAL  AND  TRULY"  STORY          219 

of  Mr.  Waldron,  which  was  sufficient  to  ensure  them  a 
warm  welcome. 

A  mutual  interest  seemed  to  spring  up  almost  im- 
mediately between  Dave  Bishop  and  the  little  miss. 
"Never  shied — kept  me  busy  from  start  to  finish.  As 
purty  a  little  filly  as  I  ever  cast  an  eye  over,"  he  after- 
wards declared  to  Waldron.  Mrs.  Winston,  Cathalee, 
Maude  and  Edith  had  him  in  charge  for  the  time,  or 
more  properly,  as  he  himself  declared,  Edith  monopolized 
his  attention,  while  the  others,  close  at  hand,  were  very 
interested  and  attentive  listeners. 

"I  wanted  to  meet  you  and  Mr.  Sutter — and  so  did  we 
all — for  several  reasons,"  she  explained,  in  a  burst  of 
confidence.  "You  see,  we  all  like  Mr.  Waldron  so  very 
much,  we  wanted  to  know  you,  because  you  are  his 
friends.  And  then  I  thought  if  you  were  real  good- 
natured — and  I  know  now  you  are — you  would  tell  me 
some  real  and  truly  stories  about  the  things  you  have 
done.  It  will  be  so  much  nicer  than  reading  about  them 
because  I  shall  know  they  are  quite  true. 

"Well,  well,  Missy!"  laughed  Dave,  much  amused  at 
the  enthusiasm  of  his  little  inquisitor,  "and  so  you've  been 
waitin'  for  Joe  and  Dave  to  tell  you  about  things  Mister 
Bill  can  tell  you  a  heap  sight  better  than  us?" 

"Whom  do  you  mean  by  Mister  Bill?  Mister  Wal- 
dron?" 

"Sartin,  sure!  Who  else  could  I  mean,  little  one? 
'Pears  to  me  you  ain't  over  well  acquainted  with  Mister 
Bill  after  all,"  said  Dave,  laughing  heartily  at  the  pert 
inquiry  of  the  little  miss. 

"How  odd!  And  why  do  you  call  him  Mister  Bill 
instead  of  Mister  Waldron?  Or,  if  you  prefer  Bill, 


220  MISTER  BILL 

why  not  call  him — well,  just  plain  Bill  ?"  she  was  curious 
to  know,  much  to  his  increased  amusement. 

"Well,  little  one,  I'll  tell  you,  seein'  as  how  Mister 
Bill  ain't  done  it  himself.  No  harm  for  you  to  know,  and 
maybe  you'll  thank  me  for  tellin'  you — all  the  more,  per- 
haps, as  you'd  never  be  likely  to  know  it  any  other 
way.  It  ain't  no  great  secret  nohow,  and  no  ways  a 
long  story.  You  see  when  Mister  Bill  first  showed  up 
out  there  in  our  country,  he  was  a  tenderfoot.  But  he 
had  plenty  of  sand  and  all  'round  good  sense,  and  he 
took  to  our  rough  ways  like  a  bird  to  the  wing,  and 
'twan't  long  afore  he  could  ride  a  horse,  shoot,  trail, 
trap,  rope  a  steer,  and  anythin'  else  a  chap  need  to  do, 
jest  about  as  well  as  any  of  us,  and  a  tarnal  sight  better'n 
most.  Then  he  up  and  went  us  some  better,  and  done 
things  we  couldn't  do  nohow,  'cause  we  didn't  know 
enough.  We  don't  all  start  from  the  same  mark,  little 
one,  and  some  of  us  ain't  so  much  to  blame  for  things  we 
don't  know,  but  I  ain't  never  discovered  that  eddication 
makes  a  man — anyhow,  it  ain't  sure  bettin'.  But  it's  a 
purty  handy  thing  to  have,  and  many  a  chap  puts  up  a 
mighty  big  bluff  on  the  strength  of  it.  You  see,  he  was 
one  of  us,  but  he  was  different.  We  could  see  it  plain 
enough,  and  thought  a  heap  sight  more  of  him  for  not 
lettin'  on  as  how  he  could  see  it.  He  could  turn  his 
hand  to  most  anythin'.  If  a  chap  broke  his  leg  or  any- 
thin'  short  of  his  head,  Mister  Bill  could  fix  him  up. 
Anybody  sick,  Mister  Bill  was  the  doctor.  Any  docky- 
ments  to  be  made  out,  Mister  Bill  was  the  lawyer.  Argy- 
ments  and  disputes  were  turned  over  to  Mister  Bill  to 
settle — he  was  on  the  level,  and  we  knew  it  dead  sartin. 
You  see,  Missy,  he  never  loses  his  head ;  screwed  un- 


A  "REAL  AND  TRULY"  STORY  221 

commonly  tight  on  them  wide  shoulders  of  his,  and  I  ain't 
never  seen  the  man — nor  woman,  far  as  that  goes — as 
could  turn  it.  He  ain't  never  abused  himself  with  licker 
and  terbacker,  and  he's  made  a  good  many  of  the  boys 
quit  makin'  fools  of  theirselves — not  preachin' — Mister 
Bill  ain't  no  preacher  except  he  took  the  notion,  then  I 
'low  he  could  preach  as  well  as  the  next  chap — but  they 
jest  naterally  shamed  theirselves  when  he  showed  'em 
as  how  a  feller  could  be  a  man  without  makin'  a  fool 
of  himself.  But  bless  you,  little  one,  everybody  knows 
Mister  Bill,  and  them  as  don't  is  misfortunate.  There's 
mighty  few  nights  go  by  there  ain't  prayers  said  for 
that  boy,  and  he  deserves  'em  all.  More  than  one  poor 
devil,  and  woman  and  child,  owes  him  their  lives,  and  he 
carries  marks  he  didn't  bring  into  the  world  with  him 
to  show  for  it.  So  you  see,  Miss,  it  comes  mighty  easy 
for  them  as  knows  him  to  call  him  Mister  Bill — easier 
than  anythin'  else.  It's  about  the  only  way  they  have  of 
lettin'  him  know  as  how  they  respect  him  different  from 
any  other  Bill,  or  Joe  or  Dave.  It's  no  slouch  to  have 
'em  call  you  Mister  out  in  that  country — they're  great 
sticklers  for  short  handles.  And  that,  little  Miss,  is  why 
we  call  him  Mister  Bill." 

"Oh,  isn't  that  perfectly  lovely !"  impulsively  cried  the 
little  miss,  with  difficulty  restraining  the  tears  that  per- 
sisted in  welling  into  her  bright  eyes.  "And  was  he  ever 
— was  he  really  and  truly  hit — shot,  I  mean?  And  are 
those  the  marks  you  mean,  Mr.  Bishop?"  queried  the 
little  mite  of  curious  femininity,  with  fearsome  concern. 

"Well,  now,  little  one,"  laughed  Dave,  patting  her  re- 
assuringly on  the  shoulder,  "don't  you  go  to  worryin' 
about  Mister  Bill.  He  can  take  care  of  himself,  and  no 


222  MISTER  BILL 

trouble  howsomever.  He's  never  been  put  on  his  back 
yet  as  I  knows  of,  and  the  man  may  live  as  can  do  it — I 
ain't  sayin'  he  don't — but  he  ain't  never  showed  up.  Jest 
let  that  boy  think  he's  right,  and  bless  you,  Miss,  you 
can't  stop  him  nohow.  He's  a  fighter  that  don't  know 
how  to  quit  'till  he  gets  that  he's  fightin'  for." 

"Oh,  isn't  that  grand!  And  just  to  think,  Cathy  and 
Maude,  we  have  known  him  all  this  time,  and  never 
knew  how  very  brave  and  good  he  is.  You  see,  Mr. 
Bishop,  he  has  never  told  us  very  much  about  himself. 
We  thought  we  knew  him,  but  we  didn't.  When  I  ask 
him  to  tell  me  about  himself  and  the  things  he  has 
done,  he  tells  me  something  funny.  He  seems  to  think 
I  am  only  a  little  girl — or  a  joke — and  he  is  never  quite 
serious  when  he  talks  with  me.  He  told  me  about  an 
unruly  horse  throwing  him  into  a  creek  when  he  was 
a  tenderfoot,  and  how  a  very  bad  man  was  going  to 
make  him  dance  the  way  those  horrid  men  do  by  shoot- 
ing at  his  feet." 

"Did  he  say  what  happened  to  the  bad  man,  little  one  ?" 
"He  said  they — they  compromised,  I  think." 
"Well,  well,  that's  purty  good!"  chuckled  Dave.     "If 
it  was  a  compromise  I  guess  as  how  the  bad  man  was 
mighty  glad  it  wan't  no  fight.    But  that's  about  as  much 
satisfaction  as   you're   liable  to   get  to   let   Mister   Bill 
spin  the  yarn." 

"Please  tell  me  something  that  Mister  Bill  has  done 
— really  and  truly.  I  think  I  rather  like  that  funny  name 
after  all — don't  you,  girls?" 

"Indeed,  I  do — I  think  it  just  splendid!"  declared 
Maude,  enthusiastically.  "Somehow  I  am  not  the  least 
bit  surprised ;  it  seems  as  if  I  had  known  it  all  the  while." 


A  "REAL  AND  TRULY"  STORY          223 

Cathalee,  however,  ventured  no  comment,  nor  raised 
her  eyes  from  her  work. 

"Do  you  think,  Mr.  Bishop,  that  he  would  mind  if  I 
called  him  Mister  Bill?"  inquired  Edith,  very  seriously. 

"Well,  little  one,  that's  purty  hard  to  say,"  replied 
Dave,  equally  serious,  "but  I  have  an  idee  that  your  little 
heart  wouldn't  ache  long  for  anythin'  you  could  ask  of 
Mister  Bill,  and  I  guess  you're  safe  in  callin'  him  jest 
about  anythin'  you  take  a  notion.  Leastwise,  if  you  have 
any  doubts,  jest  try  it  on,  and  if  he  kicks  up  disagreeable 
like,  tell  him  that  old  Dave  Bishop  egged  you  on,  and 
between  us  both  I  guess  we  can  bring  him  'round  all 
right,"  which  suggestion  seemed  to  amuse  the  speaker  no 
less  than  his  listeners. 

"I  protest  that  I  am  an  unwilling  accomplice  to  a  base 
conspiracy — I  feel  guilty  already,"  laughed  Maude. 

"It  will  be  jolly  to  surprise  him  by  calling  him  Mister 
Bill,  won't  it,  girls  ?  But  then,  of  course,  he  will  be  sure 
to  know  who  told  us,  won't  he,  Mr.  Bishop?" 

"Mighty  likely  to  guess  first  time,  I  should  say,  little 
one.  A  real  and  truly  story?  Well,  Miss,  I  couldn't 
tell  you  no  other.  I've  never  read  books  no  account,  and 
the  only  kind  I  know  is  what  you  call  real  and  truly — and 
them  in  plenty.  The  story  I'm  goin'  to  yarn  ain't  very 
long,  and  wouldn't  amount  to  much  writ  out  in  a  book, 
like  enough,  but  it  may  mean  more  to  you — same  as  it 
does  to  me — than  all  the  stories  in  them  fine  books  up 
there — good  and  all  right  enough,  no  sort  of  doubt. 
A  chap  can  say  a  heap  of  things  that  wouldn't  amount  to 
much  if  some  feller  didn't  prove  that  jest  as  smart  and 
jest  as  brave  men  live  and  breathe  as  is  writ  about. 


224  MISTER  BILL 

There's  a  sight  of  difference  between  a  bird  shut  up  in 
a  cage,  and  the  same  bird  flyin'  around  nateral  like. 

"One  winter,  about  five  year  ago,"  he  began,  with  great 
deliberation,  "a  poor  devil,  lookin'  as  how  he  was  purty 
nigh  done  for,  dragged  what  was  left  of  his  miserable  old 
body  into  a  minin'  camp  out  in  the  Colorader  mountins. 
The  boys  hauled  him  into  one  of  the  shanties  and  poured 
enough  licker  down  his  throat  to  most  put  out  the  mighty 
small  spark  of  life  left  in  him.  He'd  been  staggerin' 
along  through  the  snow  draggin'  one  foot  after  the  other 
without  knowin'  it,  jest  'cause  he'd  set  his  mind  on 
keepin'  goin'  so  long  as  he  could  stand  up.  He  didn't 
seem  to  know  he'd  reached  camp  and  kept  on  fightin' 
the  trail — he  was  plumb  loco.  The  boys  worked  over 
him  for  a  spell,  and  finally  managed  to  bring  his  senses 
back,  but  he  was  purty  well  used  up,  and  mighty  small 
stakes  for  a  man.  He  told  the  boys  as  how  his  pard 
had  took  sick  up  in  their  camp,  and  they  had  run  out  of 
grub,  and  with  starvation  starin'  'em  both  in  the  face, 
he  had  started  out  to  make  the  big  camp,  kind  of  hopin' 
agin  hope  that  he  might  hold  on  long  enough  to  reach 
it,  but  mighty  unsartin.  Said  his  pardner  would  sure 
die  if  he  didn't  get  grub  and  medicine  mighty  soon;  as 
how  he  would  start  back  himself  if  he  could  stand  on 
his  old  frozen  feet — his  will  was  all  right,  but  his  old 
body  was  way  shy  of  the  mark.  Snowed  off  and  on  for 
a  week,  and  no  sign  of  lettin'  up — one  of  them  black 
snorters  you  never  seed  the  like  of,  little  one.  The  trail 
was  all  gone  and  snow  six  or  seven  feet  on  the  level, 
and  no  tellin'  how  deep  up  in  the  mountins  and  in  the 
gulches,  and  maybe  the  whole  mountain  side  might  take 
to  slidin'  and  cover  a  man  up  in  a  jiffy.  Not  a  minute 


A  "REAL  AND  TRULY"  STORY  225 

but  somethin'  or  other  was  liable  to  knock  him  over, 
even  if  he  didn't  lose  his  bearin's,  no  ways  unlikely,  and 
besides,  'twas  crazy  cold — and  that  means  purty  cold. 
The  poor  devil  was  sure  in  hard  luck.  His  pardner 
starvin'  up  there  in  the  mountins  for  a  few  bites  of  grub, 
and  him  havin'  to  ask  a  man  jest  about  the  same  as  go  out 
and  jump  in  the  river — which  ain't  no  easy  thing  to  do. 
You  see,  Missy,  he  knew  there  was  jest  about  one  chance 
in  a  hundred  that  a  man  could  pull  through. 

"Mister  Bill  was  on  hand,  and  thawed  out  the  frost  bites 
of  the  used  up  counterfeit,  fixed  him  up  some  porridge 
and  fed  it  to  him  fast  as  he  could  stow  it  away,  and  jest 
naterally  nursed  him  back  to  life.  He  asked  the  poor 
chap  all  about  his  pardner  and  the  whereabouts  of  their 
camp,  talkin'  to  him  jest  conversational  like,  and  made 
him  forget  how  no  account  he  was.  When  he  was  feelin' 
sort  of  comfortable,  Mister  Bill  straightened  up — I  tell 
you,  little  one,  he  looked  mighty  big  and  strong — and 
said  good  natered  and  careless  like — jest  like  he  allus 
talks,  'All  right,  old  man,  don't  worry.  We'll  open  up 
communication  with  your  pard — not  exactly  telegraphic, 
but  more  satisfactory  to  a  hungry  man,'  and  down  he 
goes  to  his  cabin,  and  was  back  agin  in  a  few  minutes 
ready  for  a  trip  that  meant  about  ninety-nine  chances  agin 
him  to  one — not  exactly  in  his  favor.  The  boys  tried 
mighty  hard  to  keep  him  from  goin'.  All  hands  agreed 
'twas  next  to  sure  death.  Some  said  the  chap  might 
be  dead,  and  no  use  makin'  a  bad  matter  worse.  Some 
more  thought  maybe  it  might  clear  up  to-morrer,  and 
he'd  better  hold  on  a  while  longer.  They  purty  much 
all  had  somethin'  to  say,  but  Mister  Bill  only  laughed, 
and  said  as  how  they  were  all  mad  'cause  he  had  got 


226  MISTER  BILL 

the  first  start — that  any  of  'em  would  go  in  a  minute  if 
he  didn't.  Besides,  he  knew  the  trail — or  where  it  ought 
to  be — better  than  them,  and  maybe  a  man's  stomach 
wouldn't  wait  for  the  weather  to  shift,  and  a  few  crumbs 
might  encourage  it  to  hang  on  a  leetle  longer,  and  off  he 
went. 

"The  poor  cuss  left  behind  wished  he  was  twins,  so  as 
he  could  go  himself.  He  seemed  to  think  it  was  a  heap 
sight  easier  to  die  twice  himself,  than  to  send  another 
feller  to  die  for  him.  He  was  purty  nigh  crazy  he 
was  so  helpless.  You  see,  Missy,  if  he  kept  Mister  Bill 
from  goin' — which  he  could  no  ways  do— his  pardner 
would  sure  die,  and  he  might  die  anyway,  and  Mister 
Bill  besides.  And  little  one,"  gently  patting  the  sunny 
little  head,  tears  welling  into  his  honest  eyes,  and  his 
voice  trembling  with  emotion,  "Dave  Bishop  hopes  he'll 
never  have  another  such  load  on  his  miserable  old  con- 
science in  all  his  born  days,  for  it  was  me,  little  girl, 
stretched  out  in  that  shanty,  and  old  Joe  Sutter  up  there  in 
the  mountins,  and  me  sendin'  Mister  Bill  off  to  almost 
sartin  death,  and  not  able  to  raise  my  hand  to  stop  him. 
There's  some  things,  little  one,  we  don't  like  to  be  re- 
sponsible for,  and  it's  mighty  lucky  they're  taken  out  of 
our  hands  when  they  get  too  heavy  for  us  to  handle. 

"Mister  Bill  never  had  much  to  say  about  that  trip.  It 
was  no  ways  a  pleasure  jaunt,  but  he  made  the  cabin 
somehow  with  the  medicine  and  rations  that  saved  old 
Joe's  life.  Joe  says  Mister  Bill  jest  fell  into  the  cabin 
all  in  a  heap,  he  was  that  far  gone.  And  old  Dave  Bishop 
thanks  God  for  givin'  the  boy  strength  to  get  up  to  that 
cabin — that  same  Dave  Bishop  would  no  ways  care  about 
livin'  if  Mister  Bill  had  never  come  back  from  that  trip. 


A  "REAL  AND  TRULY"  STORY  227 

I  don't  know  nothin'  about  how  a  father  holds  his  boy, 
but  I  nary  believe  a  dad  ever  thought  more  of  his  own 
flesh  and  blood  than  Joe  and  me  thinks  of  Mister  Bill. 
And  that's  one  reason,  little  Miss,  why  two  rough  old 
duffers  love  Mister  Bill,  and  ain't  ashamed  to  say  so." 

Womanly  hearts  were  too  little  proof  against  the 
homely  pathos  of  the  simple  tale,  and  heads  bowed  lower 
and  lower  over  the  work  in  hand,  while  bright  eyes  filled 
with  tears,  and  one  of  the  little  circle — Cathalee,  by 
name — took  abrupt  leave  and  hurried  away  upstairs. 

"You  see,  Miss,  it  ain't  so  much  of  a  story.  No  high 
soundin'  words  like  you  read  maybe  every  day,  but  jest 
a  little  pictur  of  our  rough  life  out  there  among  the 
mountins,  but  its  real  and  truly — that's  what  you  wanted. 
And  if  you  think  a  rough  old  fellow's  advice  is  worth 
rememberin',  little  woman,  jest  rest  easy  with  the  real 
and  truly,  and  you'll  never  be  bothered  by  the  things 
as  ain't,  and  there's  a  mighty  sight  of  'em  in  this  world." 


CHAPTER  XXV 
THE  HOLD-UP  PARTY 

THE  Davidge  mansion  was  a  scene  of  light,  music, 
and  mirth  this  night.    The  annual  charity  affair 
was  in  full  swing.    "The  name,  indeed!    I  was 
not  even  permitted  the  privilege  of  naming  my 
own  party,"  Cathalee  declared.    "By  a  unanimity  simply 
marvelous  my  friends  persisted  in  presiding  at  the  chris- 
tening, and  carried  the  day  by  sheer  force  of  numbers. 
It  is  none  other  than  'The  Hold-Up  Party.'    Such  a  ter- 
rible name!     Yet  it  commends  itself  to  the  extent  of 
calling  a  spade  a  spade,  and  on  the  whole  relieves  me  of 
a  certain  responsibility,"  she  explained,  with  amiable  res- 
ignation. 

In  a  corner  of  one  of  the  spacious  parlors'  was  a  small 
stage  from  which  certain  features  of  entertainment  were 
dispensed.  The  efforts  of  the  performers  were  admirable 
exhibitions  of  nerve  and  physical  force,  and  occasionally 
succeeded  in  rising  above  the  reigning  confusion  to  the 
extent  of  making  it  apparent  that  something  or  other  was 
transpiring  in  the  direction  of  the  stage.  The  stage  en- 
tertainment— so  called  by  courtesy — and  the  dancing 
were  the  only  untaxable  features  of  entertainment.  Trib- 
ute was  levied  upon  the  just  and  the  unjust  alike,  and 
the  unfortunate  who  labored  under  the  delusion  that 
trade  formalities  were  recognized  was  destined  to  suffer 
an  early  and  a  rude  awakening. 

228 


THE  HOLD-UP  PARTY  229 

Maude  and  Edith  had  come  to  town  for  the  affair. 
The  former  was  one  of  Cathalee's  prime  assistants,  while 
Edith  was  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Worthington,  very  little 
in  evidence,  and  altogether  considerably  subdued  by  the 
very  austere  mien  of  her  chaperone,  and  the  general 
worldly  aspect  of  the  gathering. 

Jack  was  an  early  arrival  according  to  instructions, 
and  meeting  Maude  and  Edith  in  the  hall  greeted  his 
sister  with  true  brotherly  affection,  and  seemed  not  in- 
clined to  overlook  the  prerogatives  of  a  sweetheart,  but 
Maude  was  a  charity  girl  this  night.  "Free-list  entirely 
suspended,  sir!  Kisses  don't  buy  shoes  for  barefoot 
orphans,"  Maude  coldly  declared,  proceeding  to  attach  a 
boutonniere  to  his  coat.  "Mrs.  Davidge  says  that  I  am 
to  have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  sentiment  this  even- 
ing, but  must  attend  strictly  to  business — one  dollar, 
please." 

"Even  my  own  family  has  turned  against  me,"  he 
sighed.  "What  is  your  specialty,  Sis?"  he  demanded, 
regarding  with  some  suspicion  the  demure  young  miss 
intently  watching  this  questionable  proceeding.  "Thank 
you,  my  dear,"  he  said,  with  unmistakable  cynicism,  hand- 
ing Maude  a  two  dollar  bill,  which  she  dropped  carelessly 
into  her  basket,  with  a  matter  of  fact,  "Don't  mention  it, 
my  dear." 

"Don't  I  get  a  dollar  back?"  meekly  inquired  the  vic- 
tim of  misplaced  confidence.  "My  youth  and  inexperi- 
ence are  being  imposed  upon,"  he  declared,  upon  being 
informed  that  there  was  no  precedent  for  such  a  pro- 
ceeding. 

"What  is  the  matter,  Jack?"  inquired  Cathalee,  who 
appeared  at  that  moment.  "Indeed,  young  man,  you  are 


230  MISTER  BILL 

in  huge  luck!  Think  had  it  been  a  tenner!"  she  told 
him,  consolingly,  when  he  had  explained  the  "hold-up," 
as  he  termed  his  initiation. 

"Then  I'm  eight  dollars  ahead.  Much  obliged,  Cathy, 
but  I  don't  like  your  system — the  percentage  is  against 
the  outsider." 

Jack's  experience  was  but  one  of  many  continually 
transpiring  throughout  the  evening  as  new  arrivals  put 
in  an  appearance,  affording  no  little  amusement  for  those 
who  had  preceded  and  undergone  a  similar  initiation. 
Cathalee  was  everywhere  present  simply  overflowing 
with  laughing  good  nature,  keeping  everybody  keyed  up 
to  the  proper  pitch,  and  the  whole  affair  moving  along 
with  the  dash  and  spirit  characteristic  of  herself,  and 
withal  performing  the  duties  of  hostess  and  holder-up-in- 
chief  as  well  as  the  two  could  be  expected  to  coalesce. 

"Yes,  I  am  quite  beyond  words !"  she  frankly  admitted. 
"I  welcome  my  guests  with  one  hand,  and  the  other  goes 
immediately  to  their  pockets.  Why,  yes,  to  be  sure,  I 
am  an  expert!  You,  sir,  would  rather  be  waylaid  by 
me  than  to  have  wealth  thrust  upon  you  by  another? 
Very  well,  sir,  your  fine  preference  shall  be  duly  re- 
warded." And  to  an  elderly  admirer,  who  professed 
profound  pleasure  at  the  purchase  of  a  beautiful  rose 
from  one  of  her  fair  assistants — like  from  like — as  he 
poetically  delivered  himself,  "How  beautiful!"  she  told 
him,  "Take  two  and  be  doubly  pleased — indeed,  take 
three  and  be  thrice  blessed,"  ever  returning  a  laughing 
reply  or  bright  repartee  to  the  badinage  flung  at  her  as 
she  wended  her  way  among  her  guests. 

"Oh,  Major!  you  shall  settle  a  vexed  question  I  have 
with  Mr.  Chadeller,"  she  exclaimed,  suddenly  coming 


THE  HOLD-UP  PARTY  231 

upon  these  two  gentlemen.  "Mr.  Chadeller  promised  to 
subscribe  one  hundred  dollars  to  my  fund  under  certain 
conditions,  and  now  he  stands  upon  a  mere  technicality, 
which  I  don't  think  is  fair." 

"Excuse  me,  my  dear!"  vigorously  protested  the  old 
fellow,  "I'll  have  nothing  to  do  with  any  dispute.  Egad ! 
before  I  know  it  you  would  have  me  in  the  same  box. 
Take  my  advice,  Chadeller,  if  she  has  any  claim  on  you, 
pay  up.  Might  as  well  settle  first  as  last,  and  save  your- 
self trouble — mark  me!" 

"Oh,  indeed!  you  dare  me,  Mr.  Chadeller!  Will  you 
at  least  kindly  bear  witness,  Major — the  gentleman  dares 
the  lady.  I  warn  you,  sir,  I  am  entirely  unscrupulous — 
the  end  will  justify  the  means,  whatever  they  may  be. 
No,  I  promise  not  to  sign  your  name  to  any  checks.  I 
do  respect  my  liberty  if  not  my  conscience.  Very  well, 
sir,  you  leave  me  no  alternative  but  to  do  my  worst — 
you  may  have  cause  to  regret  your  rashness." 

"Bad  business,  Chadeller — bad  business!"  declared  the 
Major,  shaking  his  head  disapprovingly.  It's  only 
inviting  trouble  to  dare  a  woman — just  encouraging  the 
natural  instincts  of  the  sex  to  get  after  us  poor  devils." 

"Too  serious  a  view,  Major — too  serious  by  half,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Chadeller,  with  characteristic  assurance.  We 
have  to  handicap  ourselves  a  little  now  and  then  to  make 
it  half  way  interesting — a  little  extra  weight  for  age  and 
worldly  experience,  you  know,  Major." 

"Egad,  Colonel!  What  do  you  think?"  blustered  the 
Major  to  his  old  crony  whom  he  chanced  to  run  across 
some  time  later.  "A  crowd  of  those  young  chaps  have 
just  been  telling  me  about  a  new  drink  they  have  trumped 
up  over  at  the  club.  New  drink!"  he  indignantly  ex- 


232  MISTER  BILL 

claimed,  making  a  wry  face.  "Here  I  am,  Colonel,  sixty- 
seven  years  old,  and  I'm  free  to  say  that  I  haven't  even 
discovered  the  possibilities  of  the  old  drinks — let  alone 
exhausting  them.  And  hang  me,  sir,  what's  more,  I  don't 
expect  to  even  if  I  live  to  be  a  hundred — and  have  a  re- 
lapse. Colonel,  some  folks  are  never  satisfied  to  let  well 
enough  alone." 

"There's  where  our  reputations  are  torn  into  shreds 
and  scattered  to  the  four  winds — over  in  that  corner," 
he  declared,  when  he  had  recovered  his  equilibrium,  sud- 
denly catching  sight  of  a  certain  select  coterie  of  the 
opposite  sex  engaged  in  very  animated  conversation. 
"They  draw  and  quarter  a  poor  devil  behind  his  back, 
smirk  and  palaver  to  his  face,  break  his  bread  and  drink 
his  wine.  Egad !  if  they  didn't  have  straight  gullets  they 
would  surely  choke  to  death." 

"That  they  would,"  gruffly  replied  the  Colonel,  "but 
they're  a  sort  of  necessary  evil,  Major.  We  do  a  deal  of 
swearing,  but  finally  swallow  'em  like  poor  liquor  that 
we  know  won't  lay  well  on  our  stomachs,  and  more  than 
likely  to  turn  us  over  in  the  night.  But  we  must  have  the 
stimulant.  Might  as  well  try  to  run  New  York  without  a 
tiger  as  society  without  its  scandal-mongers.  Such  old" 
chaps  as  you  and  I,  Major,  would  have  to  take  to  the 
woods,  or  go  out  and  fight  the  niggers  to  find  a  little 
excitement." 

"He  may  be  all  that  a  man  should  be — as  men  go — 
but  there  is  something  very  mysterious  about  the  whole 
affair.  Who  is  he — does  anybody  know  ?"  demanded  one 
of  this  precious  group,  almost  defiantly. 

"I  hope  she  knows  more  than  she  seems  inclined  to 
tell.  I  always  said  that  she  would  distinguish  herself, 


THE  HOLD-UP  PARTY  233 

and  she  seems  in  a  fair  way  to  do  it,"  snapped  another. 

"Unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken  the  Major  himself  has 
not  unraveled  the  mystery.  He  was  positively  disagree- 
able this  evening  when  I  mentioned  the  subject — a  sure 
sign  that  he  is  in  the  dark,  or  does  not  approve,"  de- 
clared another,  with  great  gusto. 

"It  is  time  he  was  putting  in  an  appearance.  Of 
course  she  will  not  miss  such  an  opportunity  of  parading 
him  before  us  all,"  cynically  observed  another. 

"Oh,  to  be  sure !  She  has  already  promised  several  of 
her  intimates  that  the  mysterious  gentleman  shall  be  pre- 
sented to  them.  For  my  part  I  have  no  desire  to  become 
entangled  with  any  mystery — " 

"I  should  positively  refuse !" 

"Pray,  excuse  me!" 

"The  idea!" 

"Mercy!" 

Exclaimed  these  very  estimable  ladies  in  chorus,  with 
much  shrugging  of  shoulders  and  bosoms  heaving  with 
virtuous  indignation.  Two  or  three  of  their  number  were 
claimed  by  their  partners  in  the  dance,  thus  putting  an 
end  to  a  very  interesting  discussion. 

Miss  Constance  Hillman  had  been  a  very  surprised 
young  woman  when,  a  day  or  two  after  her  departure 
from  the  city,  she  had  received  a  very  curt  note  from  her 
father — rather  more  peremptory  than  the  circumstances 
required,  she  could  but  feel — informing  her  that  there 
was  to  be  no  further  reference  to  the  presence  in  the 
city  of  a  certain  individual.  Mr.  Herringdon  had  also 
received  similar  positive  instructions  when,  with  no  little 
importance,  he  had  informed  Mr.  Hillman  of  the  situa- 
tion in  detail.  That  young  man  was  not  a  little  sur- 


234  MISTER  BILL 

prised  and  considerably  at  a  loss  to  account  for  this  un- 
ceremonious disposition  of  possibly  interesting  compli- 
cations, and  was  finally  compelled  to  attribute  the  strange 
action  to  one  of  those  unaccountable  eccentricities  for 
which  the  great  man  was  noted.  Behind  this  particular 
eccentricity,  however,  as  well  as  many  others,  was  a  well 
defined  motive.  Mr.  Hillman  had  no  intention  of  giving 
any  unnecessary  publicity  to  the  recent  happenings  in 
the  Western  mining  district.  The  whole  affair  had  been 
humiliating  to  him  as  a  man,  and  would  not  tend  to 
enhance  his  reputation  with  his  business  associates  or 
with  the  public.  Moreover,  reluctant  as  he  was  to  admit 
it,  even  to  himself,  he  had  a  wholesome  respect  for  this 
same  man  with  whom  he  had  no  desire  to  again  measure 
strength  until  he  was  more  sure  of  his  ground.  In  the 
meantime  there  was  nothing  to  be  gained  by  incurring 
the  displeasure  of  the  other  side.  To  this  eccentricity, 
therefore,  may  be  attributed  in  no  small  degree  the 
mystery  surrounding  the  stranger — a  mystery  as  desir- 
able to  one  as  the  other,  at  least  for  the  present. 

"I  tell  you,  Burrows,  there's  something  wrong.  There's 
a  nigger  in  the  fence,  or  my  name  is  not  Morrison." 

"My  opinion,  and  has  been  for  a  week  or  more,"  de- 
clared Mr.  Lowe,  another  member  of  a  group  of  men 
engaged  in  earnest  discussion.  Mr.  Lowe  was  a  banker 
and  broker  having  Cathalee's  financial  affairs  in  charge. 
Mr.  Morrison  was  also  a  broker,  and  both  men,  as  well 
as  others  of  the  group,  were  closely  allied  with  Mr. 
Burrows  in  various  large  financial  transactions. 

"What  do  you  say,  Francis  ?"  sarcastically  inquired  Mr. 
Burrows  of  another  member  of  the  group.  "Do  you 
believe  that  we  are  about  to  be  swallowed  up  by  a  nigger 


THE  HOLD-UP  PARTY  235 

in  the  fence?  Nonsense!"  he  growled,  with  infinite  dis- 
gust. "What  can  be  wrong?  The  whole  thing  is  in  our 
hands  as  it  always  has  been,  and  as  it  will  remain  so 
long  as  we  have  any  use  for  it.  But  it's  on  its  last  legs 
— good  for  about  one  more  squeeze.  She's  served  us 
pretty  well,  and  we  can't  complain  if  she  is  finally  milked 
dry." 

"May  be  all  right,  but  looks  very  suspicious  to  me 
just  the  same,"  Mr.  Morrison  insisted.  "The  stock  has 
been  climbing  slowly  and  steadily  for  several  weeks  past ; 
in  the  last  few  days  it  seems  to  have  taken  a  new  lease  of 
life  despite  the  fact  that  we  have  been  selling  pretty 
freely.  Somebody  is  picking  it  up  as  fast  as  we  drop  it. 
May  be  the  public  taking  a  new  interest, — or  may  not 
be.  Whatever  the  cause,  we  must  put  a  stop  to  it  at  once 
— it  has  gone  far  enough.  We  are  not  prepared  for  a 
bull  movement  in  the  stock  at  this  time." 

"I  don't  feel  just  right  about  it  myself,"  said  Mr. 
Lowe.  "Acts  very  strangely  to  me.  I  have  been  watch- 
ing it  pretty  closely  of  late  as  I  have  made  Mrs.  Davidge 
interested,  feeling  assured  that  it  was  perfectly  safe.  I 
have  been  holding  this  money  of  hers  for  some  time 
awaiting  certain  investments,  and  thought  it  might  make 
a  turn  for  itself  while  lying  idle.  Besides,  I  am  pretty 
heavily  interested  myself,  and  I  cannot  afford  to  see  the 
thing  go  wrong  at  this  particular  time." 

"Utter  and  complete  rot!"  declared  Mr.  Burrows,  with 
irritable  impatience.  "You  are  all  frightened  before  you 
are  hurt.  I  tell  you  the  thing  is  all  right.  To  be  sure 
the  stock  has  been  going  up — all  the  better — it  will  drop 
all  the  harder.  Some  idiots  have  taken  to  buying  simply 
because  it  has  shown  a  little  life,  and  they  imagine  there 


236  MISTER  BILL 

is  something  behind  it;  but  they'll  run  like  a  flock  of 
scared  sheep  when  we  get  after  them." 

"Oh,  I  have  no  doubt  whatever  as  to  ultimate  outcome 
— not  the  least  in  the  world,"  Mr.  Lowe  hastened  to  as- 
sure his  leader. 

"I  am  advised  that  the  mills  were  shut  down  tight  as  a 
drum  today,"  continued  Mr.  Burrows.  "So  much  for 
the  new  board  of  directors.  Fact  is,  they  are  landed  high, 
and  dry — worked  out  flat.  I  have  been  waiting  for  them 
to  get  to  the  end  of  their  rope.  You  see  I  am  in  pretty 
close  touch  with  them — not  a  move  can  they  make  but  is 
immediately  reported  to  me.  Looks  like  a  flourishing 
condition  at  the  mines — very  inviting  indeed,  for  a  bull 
movement  in  the  stock,"  he  sarcastically  observed. 

"Now  is  the  time  to  strike — she'll  simply  fall  of  her 
own  weight,"  declared  Mr.  Morrison. 

"We'll  get  after  the  whole  crowd  bright  and  early 
tomorrow  morning  and  break  their  backs  before  they 
have  a  chance  to  unload.  We'll  drive  them  into  the 
woods  so  far  they'll  never  get  back.  We'll  secure  pos- 
session of  the  Properties  practically  on  our  own  terms, 
and  then  I'll  show  you  a  trick  that  has  not  yet  been 
turned." 

"Gentlemen!  Gentlemen!  I  protest!"  exclaimed 
Cathalee,  sweeping  into  the  room  just  in  time  to  catch 
these  dire  threats.  "What  a  terribly  cruel  man  you  are, 
to  be  sure,  Mr.  Burrows.  And  upon  whom,  pray,  is  such 
punishment  to  be  inflicted  ?" 

"Bulls !"  laughed  Mr.  Morrison.  "The  bulls  are  to  tie 
summarily  dealt  with  tomorrow.  We  must  apologize, 
Mrs.  Davidge,  for  talking  shop,  but  the  fact  is,  we  are 
all  interested  in  a  certain  important  movement  to  be  in- 


THE  HOLD-UP  PARTY  237 

augurated  tomorrow,  in  which,  by  the  way,  you  are  also 
interested — Consolidated  Properties — as  perhaps  you  are 
aware  ?" 

"I  was  not,  but  you  are  quite  excusable.  The  whole 
party  seems  to  have  gone  stark  mad  over  the  general 
subject.  As  it  seems  quite  the  proper  thing,  I  suppose  I 
should  be  glad  that  I  am — what  shall  I  say — in  on  it? 
Is  that  slang,  or  a  technical  expression?  I  said  it,  and 
then  wondered  where  I  got  it." 

A  general  movement  was  being  made  towards  the 
parlors.  A  very  mysterious  and  impromptu  feature  of 
the  entertainment  had  just  been  announced.  Cathalee 
ascended  the  little  stage,  and  stood  for  a  moment  await- 
ing quiet  before  speaking.  "What  piece  of  deviltry  is 
that  girl  up  to  now?"  queried  the  Major  of  his  friend 
the  Colonel.  "Something  is  going  to  happen,  I'd  stake  my 
old  head.  I  see  it  in  her  eyes — she's  just  boiling  over 
with  mischief." 

"Friends,"  she  said,  pausing  for  a  moment  and  glanc- 
ing over  her  audience  as  if  to  sense  its  humor,  "I  am 
about  to  announce  a  very  unusual  feature  of  entertain- 
ment. It  is  not  necessary  that  I  should  mention  the  very 
worthy  object  for  which  you  are  all  lending  me  your 
hearty  and  generous  and  very  substantial  assistance  this 
evening,  nor  need  I  speak  of  the  sacrifices  more  or  less 
exacting  many  of  us  are  called  upon  to  make  in  order  to 
successfully  prosecute  the  work  we  have  undertaken.  Suf- 
fice to  say,  we  reckon  not  the  mental  or  physical  discom- 
forts if  our  poor  efforts  but  accomplish  the  desired  pur- 
pose. This,  then,  is  the  justification  that  I  feel  and  offer — 
if,  indeed,  justification  really  be  needed  in  behalf  of  so 
worthy  a  cause.  Frankly,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  am 


238  MISTER  BILL 

about  to  offer  to  the  highest  bidder  a — kiss.  The  single 
stipulation,  that  the  fortunate  gentleman — pardon  my  pre- 
sumption— shall  receive  his  purchase  immediately,  and 
on  this  stage,  unless  he  chooses  to  waive  claim — also  for 
the  good  of  the  cause — which,  however,  is  entirely  op- 
tional." 

The  speech  was  delivered  in  a  manner  entirely  char- 
acteristic of  the  speaker,  and  was  received  with  vary- 
ing expressions  of  approval  and  disapproval  by  her 
guests.  The  gentlemen  enthusiastically  applauded ;  a 
portion  of  the  feminine  element  was  manifestly  amused : 
another  was  unmistakably  shocked.  Charity  was  no  ex- 
cuse ;  there  was  a  limit  even  in  behalf  of  charity,  and 
this — this  exceeded  the  limit.  Certain  husbands  and 
sweethearts  were  promptly  instructed  to  refrain  from 
taking  any  part  in  the  questionable  proceedings.  Varied 
thoughts  and  subdued  expressions;  outward  smiles  and 
excited  speculations.  Mr.  Lowe  was  requested  to  record 
the  bids  in  due  form,  and  all  was  soon  in  readiness. 

"I  am  sure,  gentlemen,"  she  said,  "that  you  will  ap- 
preciate a  certain  embarrassment  I  am  bound  to  feel, 
and  not  compel  me  to  repeat  any  portion  of  my  previous 
remarks.  I  shall  simply  ask — how  much  am  I  offered?" 

"Five  dollars !"  simultaneously  declared  an  effeminate 
voice,  which  was  discovered  to  emanate  from  Bertie 
Holly. 

"Five  dollars!"  repeated  the  fair  auctioneer,  with  in- 
credulous emphasis,  looking  down  upon  the  reckless 
bidder.  "I  fear  I  have  over-estimated  the  market  value 
of  my  wares." 

"Ten  dollars!"  indignantly  cried  Jack  Winston,  gal- 
lantly coming  to  the  rescue. 


THE  HOLD-UP  PARTY  239 

"Thank  you,  Jack,  that  is  very  much  better!"  she  told 
him,  very  gratefully.  But  that  young  man  had  evidently 
gone  abroad  for  trouble. 

"See  here,  Jack  Winston,  there  are  others  who  can 
furnish  a  very  satisfactory  article — at  cut  rates,  if  you 
please — and  don't  you  dare  bid  again!"  were  the  very 
positive  instructions  he  received  from  a  certain  young 
woman  standing  at  his  side. 

"Oh,  me!  I'm  suffering  with  pleasure,"  he  sighed. 
"When  I  don't  want  to  buy,  I'm  held  up.  When  I 
want  to  give  up,  I'm  held  down.  I  don't  like  your  party, 
Cathy!"  he  told  her,  convulsing  the  auctioneer,  as  well 
as  those  immediately  in  front,  and  temporarily  interrupt- 
ing proceedings. 

Fifteen  dollars  was  bid,  Mr.  Chadeller  offered  twenty, 
and  the  movement  was  quickly  established.  Several  of 
the  older  men  soon  withdrew,  leaving  the  contention  to 
the  younger  men,  some  of  whom  seemed  not  inclined 
to  stand  calmly  by  and  see  a  coveted  boon  carried  off 
without  a  struggle.  "Eighty — eighty-five — ninety — 
ninety-five!"  called  the  gay  auctioneer,  the  bids  follow-1 
ing  one  after  the  other  in  quick  succession  amid  increas- 
ing excitement.  "One  hundred!"  she  suddenly  cried, 
with  exultant  emphasis,  and  SOLD!  to  Mr.  George  F. 
Chadeller — one  kiss — one  hundred  dollars  !  You  have 
it,  Mr.  Lowe — very  well."  A  tumult  of  good  natured 
protest  followed  this  sudden  termination  of  the  bidding 
which,  however,  quickly  turned  to  laughter  and  applause, 
and  hearty  congratulations  for  the  fortunate  purchaser. 

The  Major  was  in  paroxysms  of  levity,  and  his  round 
red  face  gradually  assumed  a  deeper  hue  until  it  became 
positively  purple.  "She's  fixed  you,  Chadeller — she's 


240  MISTER  BILL 

fixed  you  after  all!"  he  managed  to  vociferate,  between 
spasms.  "I'd  have  sworn  it — I  tell  you,  you  can't  beat 
that  girl." 

"I'm  perfectly  satisfied  with  my  bargain,"  replied  that 
gentleman,  very  complacently,  which  seemed  a  turn  of 
the  affair  on  which  the  Major  had  not  reckoned. 

"May  be — may  be !  But  I  wouldn't  give  you  ten  cents 
for  your  bargain  and  take  your  chances — and  I'm  not  so 
devilishly  decrepit  at  that,"  he  doggedly  declared. 

"Mr.  Chadeller,  do  you  insist  upon  the  delivery  of 
your  purchase  according  to  stipulation,  or  will  you  waive 
claim  in  the  name  of  charity?"  the  auctioneer  would 
know,  when  quiet  had  been  restored. 

"Very  well,"  she  laughed,  the  gentleman  seeming  not 
inclined  to  surrender  any  of  his  rights  in  the  premises, 
"the  transaction  is  strictly  on  a  cash  basis.  Kindly  settle 
with  Mr.  Lowe,  and  your  purchase  shall  be  duly  de- 
livered." 

"Settled!"  announced  Mr.  Lowe,  with  imperturbable 
business  formality. 

Mr.  Chadeller  seemed  not  entirely  at  his  ease  as  he 
made  his  way  to  the  stage,  but  having  gone  so  far  no 
retreat  seemed  open  to  him,  even  if  he  had  so  desired, 
which,  in  truth,  was  not  apparent.  The  very  atmosphere 
seemed  charged  with  feverish  expectancy,  and  grew  more 
tense  each  instant.  Strangely  enough  she  whom  it  might 
naturally  be  supposed  would  be  the  one  most  concerned 
was  to  all  appearances  the  calmest  person  in  the  room, 
and  awaited  the  coming  of  the  gentleman  with  entire 
composure.  But  who  may  be  sure  of  the  ways  of  a 
woman  when  she  has  a  will  to  accomplish  her  way? 
Surely  not  Mr.  Chadeller,  or  he  might  have  been  even 


THE  HOLD-UP  PARTY  241 

more  ill  at  ease,  and  a  little  less  confident  of  the  power 
of  his  gold  to  win  him  that  which  he  had  failed  to  win 
for  himself.  Even  he  would  have  done  well  to  remember 
that  there's  many  a  slip  'twixt  the  cup  and  the  lip. 

"I  really  think  it  very  uncharitable  of  you,  Mr.  Chadel- 
ler,"  she  said,  rather  reproachfully,  it  seemed,  as  the 
gentleman  advanced  to  the  center  of  the  stage,  "but  if  you 
positively  insist,  I  cannot,  of  course,  interpose  further 
objections,"  and  parting  the  heavy  draperies  which  served 
as  the  stage  curtains,  disclosed  to  the  astonished  gentle- 
man the  shining  and  expansive  countenance  of  old  Lindy, 
who  appeared  to  be  in  tolerable  enjoyment  of  a  situation 
in  which  she  was  specially  featured. 

"You  know  the  particular  subject  was  not  specified, 
Mr.  Chadeller,"  she  told  him,  very  ingenuously,  but  the 
poor  man  had  seen  enough.  His  vanity  had  received  a 
rude  shock,  and  he  beat  a  hasty  retreat  to  the  uproarious 
amusement  of  the  company,  while  the  Major  suddenly  dis- 
covered that  his  hilarity  was  flourishing  at  the  expense 
of  his  breath,  and  if  he  would  preserve  the  one,  he  must 
modify  the  other  to  an  appreciable  degree. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 
WOMAN'S  DIPLOMACY 

SOME  time  later,  Edith,  peering  about  in  search 
of  Cathalee,  finally  discovered  the  object  of  her 
quest  in  earnest  conversation  with  Mr.  Chadeller. 
That  gentleman  had  promptly  disengaged  him- 
self from  the  group  of  financiers  with  whom  he  was  con- 
versing rather  disinterestedly  as  Cathalee  was  passing, 
and  expressed  himself  as  very  much  aggrieved  at  the 
"beastly  joke"  perpetrated  at  his  expense.       "But  you 
dared  me,  you  know,  Mr.  Chadeller!     It  was  all  quite 
fair,  you  must  admit,  even  if  a  trifle  embarrassing,  and 
—expensive,"  she  laughed,  apparently  not  in  the  least 
awed  by  the  serious  aspect  of  her  offense  in  his  estimation. 

"Oh,  Cathy !"  exclaimed  Edith,  suddenly  coming  upon 
them,  "Mr.  Waldron  is  here,  and  I  have  been  looking  all 
over  for  you.  I'll  fetch  him !" 

"Waldron!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Chadeller,  incredulously. 
"That  man  here — here  in  your  house?" 

This  was  certainly  Mr.  Chadeller's  unlucky  evening, 
yet  he  had  only  himself  to  blame  for  his  earlier  dis- 
comfiture, and  again  was  he  tempting  fate  with  his  reck- 
less tongue.  His  irate  state  of  mind — the  most  charitable 
excuse  to  be  offered  in  his  behalf — may  have  been  in 
some  degree  responsible  for  the  liberty  he  had  thus,  per- 
haps unconsciously,  assumed. 

242 


WOMAN'S  DIPLOMACY  243 

"Is  it  possible  that  you  would  ask  that — that  hanger- 
on — into  your  house?  He  is  nothing  less — he  is  simply 
imposing  upon  your  good  nature — " 

"Are  you  aware,  Mr.  Chadeller,  that  you  are  speak- 
ing of  my  guest?"  Cathalee  suddenly  interposed,  with 
chilling  and  imperious  dignity. 

Slightly  preceded  by  Edith,  the  guest  had  entered  the 
room  apparently  unconscious  of  the  fact  that  he  was  the 
subject  of  the  ill-timed  remarks,  and  advanced  to  meet 
his  hostess  with  entire  composure,  bestowing  not  even 
a  glance  upon  Mr.  Chadeller,  against  whom  he  almost 
brushed  as  that  gentleman  abruptly  turned  and  quitted  the 
room. 

The  group  of  gentlemen  standing  close  by  were  com- 
pulsory observers  of  the  incident,  and  after  greeting  her 
guest,  whether  from  embarrassment,  or  a  momentary  con- 
fusion, or  loyalty  to  her  guest,  she  turned  and  introduced 
him  to  Mr.  Burrows,  Mr.  Morrison  and  Mr.  Lowe,  which 
a  second  thought  would  have  suggested  was  as  unneces- 
sary as  undesirable,  and  more  than  likely  to  result  in 
further  embarrassment.  The  introduction  was  acknowl- 
edged by  the  merest  nods,  after  which  the  gentlemen 
wandered  away  as  by  common  consent. 

"I  fear  I  am  a  disturbing  element  in  your  social 
circle,"  the  guest  remarked,  with  much  the  same  indif- 
ference that  he  might  have  commented  upon  the  weather. 

"And  I  feel  that  I  should  apologize  for  my  social 
circle!"  she  indignantly  replied.  "I  think  it  perfectly 
shameful — " 

"No  apology  is  necessary,"  he  interposed.  "You  are 
not  responsible  for  the  civility  of  your  guests— or  the 
lack  of  it.  I  think  them  rather  amusing  than  otherwise. 


244  MISTER  BILL 

I  could  not  possibly  take  them  seriously,  or  at  anything 
like  their  own  valuation,"  he  told  her,  with  characteristic 
good  nature,  and  the  cool  composure  with  which  he  had 
regarded  the  lately  departed  individuals,  seemed  to  leave 
no  doubt  that  his  expressions  were  but  the  true  index  of 
his  feelings. 

"As  usual,  you  rise  superior  to  your  surroundings," 
she  laughed,  not  a  little  relieved  that  an  embarrassing 
situation  had  been  so  easily  dispelled.  "I  believe  I  was 
inclined  to  feel  a  certain  sympathy  for  you — the  men 
certainly  behaved  very  shabbily;  but  on  second  thought 
I  am  rather  sorry  for  them." 

"One  is  hardly  deserving  of  sympathy  when  one  ven- 
tures into  unwelcome  circles,"  he  replied,  rather  disin- 
terestedly. 

"Which  does  not  in  the  least  apply  to  you,  sir!"  she 
loyally  protested.  "You  came  because  I  particularly  re- 
quested— even  insisted.  You  have  come  late,  and  will 
remain  but  a  few  moments,  simply  because  you  could 
not  well  do  less.  Ah,  yes,  I  understand  perfectly!  And 
to  show  you  how  much  I  appreciate  your  coming,  I  shall 
leave  my  guests  to  care  for  themselves,  and  talk  to  you 
until  you  give  signs  of  being  bored,  when  I  shall  intro- 
duce you  to  some  of  my  friends  who  are  especially  anx- 
ious to  make  your  acquaintance.  Your  eyes  express 
doubt,  sir;  but  I  know  whereof  I  speak.  The  luncheon, 
and  our  several  appearances  in  the  park  have  not  been 
permitted  to  pass  unnoticed,  and  an  exceedingly  well  de- 
veloped curiosity  exists  concerning  my  unknown — Ah, 
yes,  they  say  it ! — my  handsome  stranger.  There  are  no 
two  opinions  on  that  point  sir.  But  I  am  not  going  to 
tell  him  all  the  very  interesting  things  said  of  him,  which 


WOMAN'S  DIPLOMACY  245 

I  frankly  admit  please  me  very  much — because  I  quite 
agree  with  them.  Now  am  I  not  embarrassingly  frank  ?" 
she  paused  to  inquire,  and  to  note  the  effect  upon  her 
guest  of  these  very  interesting  disclosures. 

"Indeed,  not  anything  of  the  kind!"  she  vigorously 
protested.  "I'll  wager  you  ran  a  gauntlet  of  very  pretty 
and  very  curious  eyes  as  you  came  through  the  rooms. 
Do  you  fancy  for  one  moment  that  I  am  the  object  of 
interest  to  those  couples  promenading  past  at  this  par- 
ticular moment?  Do  you  imagine  that  the  men  do  not 
understand  why  they  are  being  trotted  back  and  forth? 
Or  why  the  vague  and  uncertain  replies  to  their  pretty 
and  gallant  speeches?  You,  sir,  are  the  cause  of  it  all. 
Aren't  you  ashamed  of  yourself?  Oh,  yes,  you  are! 
And  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  I  approve  of  all  this  un- 
solicited attention,  and  I  think  after  all  that  I  shall  not 
introduce  you  to  any  one,  but  shall  send  you  straight 
home  when  I  have  finished  with  you,"  and  then  she  pro- 
ceeded to  do  that  which  she  had  just  disclaimed  her  in- 
tention of  doing. 

The  gentleman  may  or  may  not  have  been  conscious 
of  the  attention  that  he  might  in  no  small  measure  have 
apportioned  to  himself,  but  he  could  hardly  have  failed 
to  note  the  decided  change  in  the  demeanor  of  his  hostess 
since  first  they  met.  The  briskness,  and  even  aggres- 
siveness of  speech  formerly  so  characteristic,  had  given 
way  to  softly  modulated  tones  expressive  of  a  certain 
feminine  sweetness  entirely  foreign  to  her  demeanor  to- 
wards all  others.  Then,  too,  those  dancing  eyes  seemed 
possessed  of  a  secret  of  their  own,  and  where  once  they 
darted  sharp  and  saucily  indifferent  glances,  they  now 


246  MISTER  BILL 

bespoke  a  warmer  interest,  and  dwelt  with  a  certain  lin- 
gering tenderness — 

"All  my  people  are  talking  shop  this  evening,"  she 
told  him,  as  they  wended  their  way  through  the  rooms. 
"Aside  from  bridge  and  stocks  there  is  little  doing  now- 
adays, one  worldly  creature  informed  me.  Unless  one 
takes  up  with  one  or  the  other,  one  is  quite  outside  the 
pale.  I  have  refrained  from  indulging  in  either  up  to 
the  present  time,  but  it  seems  that  I  have  now  elected  to 
identify  myself  with  the  stock  movement." 

"As  the  lesser  of  two  evils  ?" 

"Not  necessarily.  I  really  was  not  aware  of  my  in- 
tention until  a  few  moments  ago,  when  I  was  informed 
that  I  was  already  an  extensive  participant — one  of  the 
advantages  of  not  being  compelled  to  think  for  oneself. 
Are  you  familiar  with  such  things?"  she  suddenly  in- 
quired, regarding  him  attentively. 

"Somewhat — some  things,"  he  replied,  rather  vaguely. 

"Because  there  is  one  in  particular,"  she  explained, 
very  confidentially,"  in  which  a  lot  of  us  are  interested 
— something  or  other  out  West — Consolidated  Places, 
or  something  of  the  sort — whose  backs  are  to  be 
broken." 

"Indeed!" 

"Oh,  yes !  It  is  all  quite  arranged.  The  whole  crowd 
are  to  be  driven  into  the  woods  to-morrow,  and  terrible 
things  generally  are  to  happen,  and  when  it  is  all  over, 
we  have  made  a  lot  of  money.  At  least  Mr.  Burrows 
has  pronounced  the  edict,  and  the  others  seem  to  think 
the  deed  is  as  good  as  accomplished." 

"And  have  you  no  sympathy  for  the  unfortunates?" 

"It  is  perfectly  ridiculous  for  me  to  exhibit  my  dense 


WOMAN'S  DIPLOMACY  247 

ignorance  for  your  amusement,"  she  laughed,  suddenly 
conscious  of  an  amused  interest  on  the  part  of  her  guest. 
"I  am  simply  an  animated  phonograph.  I  catch  little 
squibs  here  and  there  as  I  go  about,  and  then  just  say 
them  without  any  well-defined  idea  of  where  they  begin 
or  end.  I  must  stop  it.  One  is  simply  flying  in  the 
face  of  fate  to  just  repeat  things  without  any  definite 
idea  of  their  meaning." 

"True.  People  are  very  liable  to  make  trouble  for 
themselves,  and  sometimes — sometimes,"  he  repeated; 
glancing  curiously  at  his  companion,  "they  unconsciously 
disclose  very  great  secrets." 

"Oh,  I  cannot  possibly  fancy  myself  doing  anything 
quite  so  utterly  stupid  as  that,"  she  protested. 

"And  yet  fancy  sometimes  plays  strange  pranks." 

"You  are  pleased  to  be  sarcastic,  sir.  But  I  refuse 
to  be  drawn  into  any  argument.  I  am  on  safe  ground 
for  the  present,  and  there  I  intend  to  remain,"  she  de- 
clared, with  great  assurance. 

"I  was  not  conscious  of  preparing  a  pitfall  for  your 
unwary  feet." 

"I  am  willing  to  concede  that  you  were  not.  Never- 
theless, I  have  become  very  suspicious  of  those  appar- 
ently harmless  little  remarks  you  deal  out  so  quietly — 
they  are  sometimes  double-edged,  I  have  found  to  my 
sorrow.  Upon  several  occasions  I  have  played  the  role 
of  the  small  boy  who  didn't  know  it  was  loaded.  I  am 
now  wiser — even  if  a  trifle  disfigured,"  she  laughingly 
declared. 

"But  we  have  strayed  from  our  subject,"  she  sud- 
denly recalled.  "Do  you  know  what  I  have  been  talking 


248  MISTER  BILL 

about?    You  are  excusable  if  you  do  not,  but  I  refer 
particularly  to  all  this  talk  in  the  air." 

"Are  you  a  bull  or  a  bear,  on  these  Consolidated — 
Places,  I  believe  you  called  them?"  he  asked,  quietly 
amused  at  the  particular  turn  the  conversation  had  taken. 
"Bull?    Bear?" 

"To  be  sure.  Are  you  long  or  short?" 
"Must  one  be  something — one  or  the  other?" 
"Yes.  One  should  choose  with  fine  discretion  with 
such  terrible  happenings  in  store  for — one  or  the  other." 
"Well,  really,  I  don't  know  what  I  am,  except  that 
I  am  a  simpleton  in  matters  of  business,"  she  frankly  ad- 
mitted, "but  I  hope  I  am  not  a  bull;  I  should  find  it 
particularly  inconvenient  to  be  driven  into  the  woods 
to-morrow.  Mr.  Lowe  has  all  my  business  affairs  in 
charge,  you  'know — of  course  you  don't  know,  but  I 
am  going  to  tell  you.  Mr.  Davidge  had  the  utmost  con- 
fidence in  Mr.  Lowe,  and  none  at  all  in  me — in  matters 
of  business — so  I  was  very  considerately  relieved  of  all 
responsibility,  and  Mr.  Lowe  was  given  sole  charge  of 
my  affairs  of  business.  I  am  perfectly  helpless  in  any- 
thing and  everything  pertaining  to  finances.  I  know 
perfectly  well  when  I  require  money — I  am  not  at  all 
stupid  in  that  respect — and  I  have  only  to  tell  Mr. 
Lowe  what  I  require,  and  it  is  all  perfectly  simple  and 
lovely.  Some  day  I  intend  to  become  more  familiar 
with  my  extensive  affairs  as  I  have  great  ideas  I  hope 
to  put  into  execution  before  I  pass  into  the  sere  and 
yellow  state.  But  you  have  not  told  me  whether  you 
think  I  should  be  a  bull  or  a  bear.  I  am  sure  you  know 
quite  well,  if  you  were  sufficiently  interested  to  tell 
me,"  which  flattering  expression  of  confidence  would  in- 


WOMAN'S  DIPLOMACY  249 

dicate  that  milady  was  well  versed  in  certain  other  things, 
not  the  least  of  which  was  man.  "I  am  going  to  ask 
Mr.  Lowe  just  what  I  am,"  she  said,  and  another  subject 
quickly  engaged  her  attention. 

And  so  it  happens  that  woman  is  not  at  all  times 
a  skillful  and  consistent  diplomat.  How  often  does  she 
flatter  this  susceptible  creature  man — as  perhaps  in  the 
present  instance — by  asking  his  lordly  opinion  of  mat- 
ters and  things  she  professes  a  wish  to  know.  What 
does  he  think — what  can  he  think — when,  if  you  please, 
before  he  is  given  a  chance  to  speak,  the  subject  is  ab- 
ruptly changed?  Does  he  think  she  really  wished  to 
know  that  of  which  she  asked?  And  if  so,  why,  by  the 
great  and  abiding  love  in  which  he  holds  her,  is  he  not 
allowed  to  speak  ?  Or,  if  she  really  did  not  care  to  know, 
why  did  she  ask  ?  Why,  indeed  ? 


CHAPTER  XXVII 
"THE  TONGUE  IS  BUT  A  FOOLISH  JESTER" 

THE  guests  had  long  since  departed,  and  the 
house  was  dark  and  still  save  one  small  room 
where  only  the  fire  light  broke  the  shadows, 
and  the  stillness  of  the  wee  small  hours  was 
disturbed  only  by  the  softly  modulated  voices  of  two 
daintily  robed  creatures  for  whom  rest  and  sleep  pos- 
sessed no  allurements.  Only  less  important  than  the 
affair  itself  are  these  aftermaths — pleasure  or  pain — 
all  must  be  carefully  gone  over  and  weighed  in  the 
balance  before  sleep  can  be  wooed. 

"And  do  you  know,  Cathy,  whom  I  think  was  the 
most  interesting  of  the  men?"  asked  one  prettily  robed 
person  of  the  other,  at  whose  feet  she  was  comfortably 
nestled. 

"Jack!"  replied  the  other,  diverting  her  gaze  from 
the  flames,  and  smiling  indulgently  on  the  spaeker.  "Who 
else,  to  be  sure?" 

"Nonsense,  Cathy!  Jack  is  my  Jack,  of  course;  but 
he  is  only  a  boy.  Wasn't  he  superb  in  evening  dress? 
And  how  well  he  carried  himself!  And  how  big  and 
strong  he  looked  beside  the  other  men!  And  what  a 
really  handsome  man  he  is!" 

"Who,  dear?" 

"Why,  Mister  Bill,  to  be  sure !  He  was  far  and  away 

250 


"A  FOOLISH  JESTER"  251 

the  most  interesting  of  all  the  men.  Now  don't  tell  me 
you  don't  think  so,  Cathy,  because  I  shall  be  very,  very, 
angry — indeed  I  shall,"  she  declared,  with  pretty  in- 
sistence. "And  how  all  the  people  noticed  him  as  he 
passed  through  the  rooms  with  Edith — indeed  how  could 
they  do  otherwise,  when  such  an  interesting  stranger 
suddenly  appeared  in  their  midst,"  she  prattled  on,  no 
reply  being  offered.  "Have  you  noticed  how  he  shows 
Edith  the  same  attention,  the  same  quiet  deference  that 
he  pays  to  an  older  person.  The  little  minx  enjoys  it 
hugely.  Yet  there  is  that  about  it,  she  says,  which 
makes  her  feel  that  he  looks  upon  her  as  a  very  little 
girl,  which  she  does  not  entirely  approve.  And  when 
he  talks  to  you,  you  just  seem  to  have  any  number  of 
things  to  say,  and  before  you  are  aware,  you  are  simply 
rushing  along  at  a  mad  rate,  and — well,  you  are  just 
glad  when  he  comes,  and  sorry  when  he  goes — don't  you 
feel  that  way,  Cathy?" 

"I  don't  know,  dear,  what  I  feel,  except  that  I — I  feel 
too  much." 

"Cathy!"  impulsively  cried  the  younger  woman,  start- 
ing up  and  staring  at  her  companion  in  mild  amazement, 
"Do  you — do  you  love  Mister  Bill?" 

"Ah,  yes,  yes!  Why  deny  it?  Why  deny  that  I  am 
simply  helpless?  Why  deny  that  I  have  been  fighting 
against  myself  for  days,  and  all  the  while  knowing  the 
struggle  was  useless?  I  do  not  seem  to  possess  any 
strength,  any  will  of  my  own,  where  that  man  is  con- 
cerned. I — I  who  fancied  myself  so  strong,  am  simply 
carried  along,  even  while  I  am  struggling  against  it." 

"And  when  did  it  all  begin,  Cathy?    Please  tell  me — " 

"Ah,  dear,  don't  ask  me.    I  don't  even  know.    I  think 


252  MISTER  BILL 

he  interested  me  before  I  knew  him — that  terrible  night 
out  in  the  mountains.  He  was  so  brave  and  good  and 
tender  to  those  poor  people.  A  woman's  heart  is  not 
proof  against  such  strength  and  goodness,  my  dear.  I 
think  he  won  my  respect  and  admiration  that  night,  and 
my  heart,  and  all  else  quickly  followed  when  I  came 
to  know  him.  As  I  look  back  I  can  see  that  I  was  going, 
going,  all  the  while,  yet  failed  to  realize  that  I  had  been 
caught  in  a  treacherous  current." 

"Oh,  it  is  perfectly  lovely,  Cathy!" 

"Don't  say  that,  my  dear,  unless  you  wish  me  misery." 

"Why,  Cathy,  what  do  you  mean?  You  don't  mean 
— you  cannot  mean — that  Mister  Bill  does  not  love  you  ?" 
she  cried,  incredulously. 

"Yes,  dear,  that  is  just  what  I  mean.  Is  it  so  difficult 
to  believe — does  it  really  seem  so  strange?"  she  asked, 
with  sweet  and  loving  gentleness,  smiling  into  the  up- 
turned face  of  her  serious  little  companion. 

"Oh,  Cathy,  I  cannot  believe  it!  You  are  tired  and 
upset — " 

"Yes,  dear,  I  am  tired  and  unstrung,  I  fear — I  am 
weak  to-night.  I  shall  be  stronger  and  braver  to-morrow, 
and  for  all  time.  I  must  always  be  strong  or  I  shall  be 
miserable." 

"Oh,  no,  no,  Cathy!  It  cannot  be!  Surely  Mister 
Bill  must  care  for  you  in  return  for  all  the  love  you 
have  given  him.  It  cannot  be  that  of  all  the  men  who 
would  give  everything  they  possess  for  your  love — it 
simply  cannot  be  that  the  only  one  you  love  has  none 
to  give.  No,  no!  I  am  sure  it  cannot — it  must  not 
be.  You  are  mistaken,  Cathy — you  don't  understand — " 

"There,  there,  dear,"  she  gently  interposed,  smiling 


"A  FOOLISH  JESTER"  253 

indulgently  at  the  earnestness  of  her  loyal  little  com- 
panion, "there  are  things  you  don't  understand.  It  is 
all  quite  hopeless.  He  does  not  think  me  such  a  bad 
lot — as  a  friend,  perhaps — but  a  deeper  feeling  has 
never  entered  his  breast.  He  is  far  more  likely  to  be- 
come interested  in  Edith,  if  he  has  not  already.  Her 
sweet,  innocent  and  fresh  young  life,  would  appeal  to 
a  man  of  his  character  who  is  much  too  sensible  to  tol- 
erate the  forced  and  artificial  life  we  lead.  Her  life  is 
just  beginning,  and  may  be  moulded  into  a  sweet  and 
lovely  womanhood.  The  parts  are  all  there  for  his  build- 
ing, and  a  man  may  make  of  her  what  he  will — a  com- 
panion of  whom  he  may  well  be  proud,  and  the  joy  and 
comfort  of  his  life,  or — like  thousands  of  others.  Besides, 
I  have  much,  and  he  has  little — as  the  world  reckons — 
and  he  is  far  too  proud  to  accept  more  than  he  has  to 
offer.  But  there,  dear,  all  this  is  beside  the  question." 

"And  just  to  think,  Cathy,  it  was  only  yesterday  that 
you  said  you  were  quite  sure  you  never  could  care  enough 
for  any  man — " 

"Yes,  dear,  I  know !  I  have  said  many  foolish  things, 
but  I  knew  all  the  while  that  I  was  only  deceiving  my- 
self— or  trying  to.  When  a  woman  is  compelled  to 
whistle  to  keep  up  her  courage  she  is  grasping  at  a 
straw — a  poor  acknowledgment  of  weakness  and  defeat, 
did  she  but  know." 

"Oh,  dear,  Cathy!  Girls  are  such  terribly  contradic- 
tory creatures.  We  say  such  heaps  of  things,  and  make 
no  end  of  resolutions  knowing  all  the  while  we  don't  even 
intend  to  keep  them." 

"Ah,  dear!  the  tongue  is  but  a  foolish  jester,  and 
merely  wags  at  will.  But  the  heart — Ah,  the  heart! — 


254  MISTER  BILL 

is  subject  to  a  higher  power  beyond  the  will  of  man — 
much  less  a  woman.  We  protest  and  rebel,  but  the  fact 
remains,  we  love  without  volition  of  our  own,  and  even 
against  our  better  judgment.  Weak  ?  Unwomanly  ?  In- 
excusable? Who  shall  say?  I  have  no  excuse,  nor  do  I 
seek  one." 

"Ah,  no,  Cathy,  of  course  you  do  not,  nor  do  any  of 
us.  We  cannot  regulate  our  hearts  to  the  day,  the  hour, 
the  minute,  they -shall  do  our  bidding.  Ah,  our  hearts! 
How  treacherous — how  loyal!  How  they  let  us  sleep 
and  dream  sweetly  on  unconscious  and  careless  of  all 
save  the  intoxication  of  the  moment.  Oh,  Cathy,  I  can- 
not— I  will  not  believe — " 

"Ah,  my  dear,  you  are  inexperienced  in  the  ways 
of  the  world,  and  may  you  ever  be  shielded  from  its 
rough  edges,  and  never  know  the  sorrows  and  heart- 
aches it  holds  for  so  many.  Happiness  is  not  for  all. 
Some  must  be  content  with  lowly  and  lonely  lives ;  some 
must  be  content  to  labor  for  others ;  some  must  even 
give  their  lives  for  others.  But  wherever  her  lot  is 
cast,  the  happiness  of  every  woman  lies  in  being  true  to 
her  womanhood,  without  which,  no  king,  nor  man,  nor 
station,  can  compensate  her  for  the  sacrifice.  And  in  the 
simple  consciousness  of  her  loyalty  and  obedience  to 
those  innate  guardians,  whose  promptings  are  her  safe- 
guard— the  only  guide  a  good  woman  need  ever  know 
— will  come  the  great  fruition  of  happiness — the  highest 
and  best  reward  our  sex  is  privileged  to  know." 

"Oh,  Cathy!  how  brave — how  good,  you  are!"  im- 
pulsively cried  the  younger  woman. 

"And  now,  dear,  bright  eyes  should  be  closed  in  slum- 
ber," sealing  two  protesting  lips,  which  returned  the 


"A  FOOLISH  JESTER"  255 

mute  token  of  endearment  with  another,  and  another, 
and  yet  another,  while  bright  eyes  grew  dim  with  tears 
and  a  little  head  nestled  closer  against  the  form  about 
which  encircling  arms  had  found  their  way.  Good-night 
was  said — one  last  embrace.  "Sweetest  dreams,  dearest, 
and  may  your  life  be  the  one  long  sweet  dream  of  hap- 
piness you  would  make  for  others,  could  you  but  choose 
the  way." 

And  while  the  stillness  of  the  night  grows  heavy,  a 
lonely  figure  sits  before  the  grate — thinking — watching 
— yet  seeing  not  the  dying  embers  fade  away — flickering 
— falling — clinging  to  the  last  lingering  spark  of  life — 
fainter — fainter — one  last  spasmodic  leap — darkness 
over  all.  Even  as  the  flame  of  hope  in  the  human  breast 
burns  and  wanes  and  flickers,  finally  dying  out,  leaving 
a  soul  in  darkness  and  despair. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 
MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE 

THE  next  morning  Jack,  rushing  breathlessly  into 
Waldron's  office  found  Messrs.  Bishop  and  Sut- 
ter  in  comfortable  possession,  each  man  tilted 
back  in  an  easy  chair  against  the  wall  on  op- 
posite sides  of  the  room  complacently  pulling  away  at 
cigars  at  once  conspicuous  for  their  size  and  color. 

"Has  Mister  Bill  been  here  this  morning,  or  do  you 
expect  him  soon  ?"  he  inquired,  with  difficulty  suppressing 
the  excitement  under  which  he  was  laboring. 

"Mister  Bill  ain't  showed  up  yet — liable  to  roll  in 
any  minute  I  reckon,  young  'un,"  said  Dave,  with  care- 
less good  nature,  between  pulls  at  his  weed.  "Anythin' 
special?"  he  inquired,  noting  Jack's  impatience. 

"Very  much,  Mr.  Bishop.  I  have  it  pretty  straight 
that  they  are  going  to  hammer  Consolidated  Properties 
this  morning,  and  I  came  up  to  tell  Mister  Bill  so  that 
he  might  not  be  taken  unawares." 

"Show!  They  be  goin'  to  hammer  old  Consolidated 
— be  they  ?  I  'lowed  that  when  you  driv  up,  young  'un," 
said  Dave,  with  the  most  refreshing  indifference,  scan- 
ning the  young  man  through  the  blue  haze  in  which  he 
had  enveloped  himself. 

"Yes,  and  it's  nine-thirty  now.  I  think  he  would  surely 
be  here  if  he  knew  that  they  were  going  to  make  the 

256 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  257 

drive  this  morning.  It  would  be  very  unfortunate  if 
he  were  not  aware  of  their  intentions.  Guess  I  had  bet- 
ter look  him  up,"  he  suggested. 

The  fleeting  seconds  while  awaiting  a  reply  to  his 
suggestion  seemed  to  the  excited  youth  like  a  waste  of 
precious  time,  and  he  could  hardly  control  his  impatience 
while  Dave  Bishop  with  the  most  exasperating  coolness 
removed  the  cigar  from  his  mouth,  slowly  and  even  more 
deliberately  delivered  himself  of  a  prodigious  volume  of 
blue  smoke,  carefully  blowing  away  the  last  vestige,  be- 
fore he  was  finally  moved  to  speech. 

"I  reckon,  young  'un,  as  how  Joe  Sutter  over  there, 
and  Dave  Bishop  right  here,  stand  to  lose  as  much  as 
the  next  man  in  this  'ere  stampede,  and  we  ain't  wor- 
ryin'.  'Cause  why?  'Cause  Mister  Bill  is  pintin'  the 
gun,  and  when  he  gets  ready  to  let  go,  we  ain't  no  kind 
of  doubt  but  the  game  he's  aimin'  at  is  goin'  to  drop  all 
right  enough." 

"Yes — yes!"  said  Jack,  impatiently. 

"We  don't  know  nothin'  about  this  'ere  round-up,  and 
what's  more,  we  don't  want  to  know  nothin'  about  it — 
it  ain't  in  our  line.  Joe  and  me  are  jest  here  on  a 
little  pleasure  trip  and  we  ain't  botherin'  our  heads  about 
no  business.  What's  the  use?  We're  tenderfeet  and 
we've  sense  enough  to  know  it." 

"I  understand,  Mr.  Bishop.  I  will  see  if  I  can  find 
Mister  Bill,"  said  Jack,  now  thoroughly  convinced  that  it 
was  high  time  for  him  to  act. 

"You  see,  young  'un,"  continued  Dave,  "the  chaps  that 
stake  the  color  (gold)  and  keep  the  works  a-hummin' 
ain't  the  ones  that  put  the  pictures  on  paper  and  raise 
a  great  hullabaloo  and  get  the  crowd  to  fightin'  and 


258  MISTER  BILL 

tumblin'  over  theirselves  like  a  pack  of  varmits  to  get 
hold  of  the  pesky  stuff.  They  'tend  to  their  works  same 
as  we  'tend  to  ours,  and  keep  'em  goin'  their  own  way, 
mostly,  I  'low,  by  throwin'  the  pack  somethin'  to  gnaw 
on  once  in  a  while  jest  to  keep  their  courage  up  to 
stickin'  pint,  when  they  ain't  stirrin'  'em  up  with  a  long 
pole  and  makin'  'em  jump  sideways  to  get  out  of  their 
own  way." 

"Yes,  yes!"  cried  Jack,  in  sheer  desperation.  "Some- 
thing must  surely  be  wrong — " 

"You  see,  young  'un,"  continued  the  imperturbable 
Dave,  "we  use  them  and  they  use  us  even  if  one  is  bad 
licker  to  t'other,  and  there's  no  more  friction  than  is 
nateral  to  a  couple  of  man-eaters  that's  bound  to  bite 
and  scratch  each  other  when  t'other  ain't  lookin'.  But 
there's  a  sight  of  trouble  soon  as  a  chap  takes  the  no- 
tion he  can  run  both  claims,  and  gets  the  idee  that  he's 
the  lone  pine  all  by  himself.  He  may  stand  up 
straight  and  stiff  like  for  maybe  some  time,  but  he's 
jest  darin'  the  whole  crowd  to  take  a  fall  out  of  him. 
Where  there's  only  one  likely  piece  of  timber  to  whack, 
there's  a  sight  of  axes  jest  itchin'  to  get  at  it,  and  first 
one  and  then  another  gets  in  a  lick — and  maybe  some 
feller  two  or  three — and  purty  soon  old  tree  gets  kind 
of  top  heavy,  and  down  he  comes  all  in  a  heap.  Then  again 
it's  a  mighty  likely  mark  for  chain  lightnin',  and  when  old 
Jove  lashes  out  a  kick  at  the  big  butt — no  difference 
how  solid — down  comes  Mister  Tree.  A  man  ain't  no 
harder  to  bring  down,  and  a  kick  where  it'll  do  the  most 
good  ain't  no  bad  way  to  do  it  neither.  He  has  a  long 
ways  the  best  of  the  tree  at  that,  seein'  as  how  he  can 
pick  himself  up  and  go  about  his  business  again.  May 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  259 

be  sort  of  stiff  and  used  up  like,  but  he  knows  more,  and 
is  a  hanged  sight  more  decent  to  live  with. 

"I  don't  know,  young  'un,  how  this  'ere  feller  Mister 
Bill  is  trailin'  is  goin'  to  be  brung  down — axes  or  light- 
nin' — but  I  mistrust  lightnin'  will  do  the  job.  That's 
more  his  way  when  he  has  a  fight  on  hand,  and  kinder 
looks  like  he  had  his  coat  off  in  this  'ere  scrimmage. 
You'll  see  the  fur  fly  purty  soon,  I  reckon.  He  sent  word 
as  how  he  wanted  to  see  us  this  mornin',  and  that's  why 
we're  here.  You're  all  right,  young  'un.  Don't  worry 
about  Mister  Bill.  He'll  he  here  in  time  no  kind  of 
doubt,  and  if  he  ain't  he'll  be  where  he  orter  be." 

The  young  man,  however,  was  far  from  being  reas- 
sured by  these  unqualified  expressions  of  confidence  on 
the  part  of  the  easy-going  Westerner  who  seemed  not 
to  realize  the  serious  nature  of  the  situation. 

"How's  the  little  Missus?"  inquired  Dave,  abruptly 
changing  the  subject,  a  broad  grin  spreading  over  his 
rough  bronzed  face.  "There's  a  rare  little  filly,  young 
'un — they  don't  grow  out  our  way  jest  her  gait.  I'd 
like  mighty  well  to  take  her  back  with  me,  but  I'm  feared 
she'd  buck  and  cut  up  troublesome  like.  Wouldn't  like 
to  give  her  up  nohow,  I  guess?"  he  queried,  good  na- 
turedly. 

"Set  down  and  make  yourself  to  home,  young  'un — 
ain't  nothin'  to  worry  about,"  said  Joe,  quietly  amused 
at  the  ill-suppressed  impatience  of  the  youth  which  kept 
him  pacing  nervously  back  and  forth  looking  at  his 
watch  at  short  intervals.  "Have  a  smoke?"  he  ingen- 
uously inquired,  offering  Jack  a  cigar  which  that  young 
man  wisely  declined  to  negotiate.  "I  'lowed  it  war  a 
little  heavy  for  your  weight.  Dave  and  me  likes  'em 


260  MISTER  BILL 

as  bites,  when  we  don't  have  our  old  pipes.  We  ain't 
no  highfalutin  notions,  but  we  sort  of  agreed  we 
wouldn't  smoke  our  old  stokes  on  this  'ere  trip.  They 
don't  look  none  too  good,  and  then  again,  maybe  nobody 
would  care  so  much  about  havin'  'em  'round — or  us  either. 
We're  rough  old  chaps,  and  there's  a  heap  of  things  we 
don't  know,  but  when  we  take  a  shy  into  another  man's 
country  we're  as  decent  as  we  know  how  to  be  same 
as  we  expect  him  to  be  when  he  comes  on  to  our  sec- 
tion." 

A  brisk  step  was  heard  in  the  hall  and  Waldron  sud- 
denly appeared,  much  to  Jack's  relief.  "Hello,  Jack! 
Morning,  boys — comfortable,  I  see !"  greeting  his  friends 
with  cheery  good  nature.  "Wouldn't  they  give  you  a 
cigar,  Jack?"  he  inquired,  as  he  rolled  back  the  cover  of 
his  desk.  "Personally,  I  never  take  any  chances  with 
those  cigars.  Dave  occasionally  seems  to  think  that  I 
need  an  emetic,  and  prescribes  one  of  his  dry  dopes, 
which  I  indulge  by  proxy  through  Joe.  Then  again,  Joe 
would  share  his  happiness  with  me,  and  persuades  me 
to  accept  a  stick  of  his  extract  of  joy,  which  I  promptly 
hand  over  to  Dave  to  assist  in  undermining  his  constitu- 
tion," he  affably  explained,  as  he  glanced  over  his  mail, 
and  manifested  no  surprise  when  informed  of  the  object 
of  the  young  man's  visit. 

"All  right,  Jack — much  obliged,"  was  his  brief  re- 
ply. 

"What  do  you  want  of  us,  Mister  Bill?"  inquired 
Dave. 

"I  called  a  meeting  of  the  board  this  morning — two 
or  three  questions  to  be  considered.  You  need  not  go, 
Jack.  This  is  not  a  secret  session,"  he  laughed,  "merely 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  261 

an  informal  discussion.  "Before  night,  gentlemen,  you 
will  be  richer  or  poorer  men — " 

"Did  you  get  us  down  here  to  tell  us  all  that?"  Dave 
inquired,  rather  disgustedly.  "You  might  have  waited 
till  night,  and  then  you'd  know  all  about  it,  for  sure." 

"Your  position  is  too  well  taken  to  admit  of  argu- 
ment, David.  The  thought  occurred  to  me,  however,  that 
less  embarrassment  might  result  if  I  told  you  this  morn- 
ing that  your  worldly  possessions  might  take  wings  dur- 
ing the  day,  than  to  be  compelled  to  inform  you  to-night 
that  they  had  actually  flown.  Merely  a  technical  differ- 
ence, to  be  sure." 

"You  don't  'pear  to  be  worryin'  much  yourself.  When 
you  get  oneasy,  time  enough  for  me  to  get  nervous,"  re- 
plied Dave. 

"Same  here,"  said  Joe. 

"What  are  the  views  of  the  board  concerning  settle- 
ment should  we  succeed  in  stampeding  our  opponents — " 

"I  say  give  'em  hell !"  vigorously  declared  Dave  Bishop, 
bringing  his  chair  down  on  the  floor  with  a  resounding 
whack.  "I  say  give  'em  enough  to  keep  'em  busy  on 
their  own  claim  'tending  to  their  own  business  for  a 
spell,  and  let  other  folks  alone.  Give  'em  the  same  as 
they  give  us,  and  I'll  be  satisfied.  Any  man  orter  be 
willin'  to  take  that!" 

"Sure  thing !"  chimed  Joe. 

"We  are  bound  to  recognize  the  fact,  however,  that 
in  forcing  a  settlement  beyond  certain  limits,  we  may 
lose  all  that  we  might  gain  by  more  moderate  demands. 
Now  is  it  desirable  to  take  unnecessary  risks  for  the  sake 
of  paying  old  scores?" 

"Anything    you    say    goes,    Mister    Bill,"    declared 


262  MISTER  BILL 

Dave.  "We're  in  this  thing  to  see  her  through,  and 
we  ain't  no  quitters  and  no  kickers.  Then  again,  we 
ain't  so  crazy  to  corral  all  the  dust  in  sight.  We  jest  want 
what  belongs  to  us,  and  we  ain't  no  objection  to  purty 
fair  interest,  and  a  leetle  somethin'  or  other,  maybe,  for 
our  trouble,  and  I  guess  we'll  manage  to  get  along  on 
that.  Howsomever,  we  stand  by  you,  Mister  Bill.  The 
boys  are  all  dead  willin'  to  make  or  break  with  you — 
what's  good  enough  for  you  is  good  enough  for  them." 

"If  you  can  manage  to  land  them  fellows  a  few  good 
sockdolagers  where  they'll  do  the  most  good — jest  com- 
plimentary like,  to  let  'em  know  we  ain't  forgot  what 
they've  done  for  us  in  the  same  way — the  boys  won't 
offer  no  objections,  and  kind  of  please  'em,  seein'  as  how 
they  ain't  here  to  see  the  dirt  fly,"  was  the  frankly  ex- 
pressed opinion  of  Mr.  Sutter. 

"Now  then,  gentlemen,  there  is  another  aspect  of  the 
case  we  are  also  bound  to  consider,"  Waldron  told  them. 
"Suppose  we  suddenly  find  ourselves  confronted  by  an 
overwhelming  force,  and  it  is  a  case  of — well,  hands 
up?" 

"Ain't  never  seen  you  throw  up  your  hands  yet,  Mis- 
ter Bill,"  said  Dave,  with  supreme  assurance. 

"Nor  me,  neither,  and  I  don't  cal'late  as  how  I  will 
in  this  'ere  fracas,"  Joe  opined,  with  equal  compla- 
cency. 

"Thank  you,  gentlemen!"  laughed  Waldron.  "Your 
compliments  are  as  gratifying  as  they  are  unnegotiable. 
The  voice  of  the  meeting  seems  to  be  unanimous  that 
we  give  'em  hell — so  far  as  may  be  consistent  with  our 
own  safety.  Has  the  board  any  further  suggestions  to 
offer?" 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  263 

"Nary  a  one!"  said  Dave. 

"Nope!"  assented  Joe. 

"Very  well,  gentlemen,  the  business  of  the  meeting  is 
transacted.  Our  next  official  duties  will  presumably  be 
in  the  nature  of  obsequies  of  our  friend  the  enemy,  or 
— our  own.  I  trust  you  will  be  on  hand  in  case  I  am 
compelled  to  offer  you  up  as  a  sacrifice,"  he  told  them, 
with  brutal  candor. 

The  meetings  of  the  full  board  of  directors  of  this 
unique  company  differed  little  except  in  the  number  of 
participants  from  the  informal  affair  just  recorded.  In 
all  respects  were  they  marvels  of  simplicity.  The  meet- 
ings were  attended  under  protest,  and  considered  very 
much  of  a  nuisance  by  the  majority  of  the  members. 
"The  doctor  ordered — look  pleasant  and  take  your  medi- 
cine," was  the  oft-repeated  reply  of  the  young  president 
to  the  good  natured  grumblers.  Was  it  another  stamp, 
another  engine,  matters  of  finance  or  law — of  which 
there  were  complexities  innumerable — this,  that,  or  the 
other,  the  questions  invariably  resolved  themselves  into 
"All  right,  Mister  Bill,"  "Anything  you  say  goes,"  "Same 
here,"  "Me  too,"  with  the  regularity  of  a  packed  cau- 
cus. Nevertheless,  reports  and  routine  business  were 
strictly  and  carefully  maintained,  the  president  and  man- 
ager offering*  in  extenuation  of  his  scrupulous  business 
methods  that  if,  by  fair  means  or  foul,  he  should  land 
the  works  high  and  dry  some  fine  day,  they  would  at 
least  know  how  it  happened,  and  be  full  partners  in  their 
misfortunes. 

"You  see,  Jack,  we  are  not  long  on  formalities,"  Wal- 
dron  remarked  to  the  young  man,  who  had  been  watch- 
ing this  impromptu  disposition  of  weighty  business  af- 


264  MISTER  BILL 

fairs  with  amused  interest.  "Dave  and  Joe  are  great 
sticklers  in  matters  of  parliamentary  procedure — on  the 
short  side.  They  believe  that  brevity  is  not  alone  the 
soul  of  wit,  but  the  spirit  of  life  as  well.  They  are 
thoroughly  convinced  that  even  fractions  of  seconds  are 
conducive  to  life  and  health,  especially  when  opinions 
differ  as  to  the  relative  value  of  two  lives.  Theirs  is 
not  a  theory,  but  a  fact — themselves  the  evidence." 

These  offhand  observations  were  briskly  and  affably 
delivered  in  the  intervals  between  telephone  calls,  des- 
patching of  several  messenger  boys  and  rapid  scanning 
of  papers,  all  without  apparent  haste  or  uncertainty  of 
thought  or  action,  but  rather,  creating  the  impression 
of  greater  capacity  should  occasion  require,  which  caused 
the  young  man,  who  had  never  seen  his  friend  under 
stress  of  business,  no  little  wonder  and  admiration.  The 
self-possessed  indifference  of  the  social  man  had  given 
way  to  a  briskness  and  a  decision  of  voice  and  manner 
intensely  suggestive  that  he  held  himself  and  his  business 
well  in  hand,  and  was  awaiting  the  onslaught  of  the 
enemy  at  his  pleasure. 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  the  young  man  had  grave 
doubts  as  to  the  outcome  of  the  impending  conflict,  as 
he  knew  only  too  well  the  countless  difficulties  and  un- 
foreseen obstacles  continually  arising  to  frustrate  the  best 
laid  plans.  He  could  but  feel  that  the  contending  forces 
were  vastly  unequal;  in  short,  the  old,  old  story  of  in- 
sider against  outsider,  and  precedent  had  long  decreed 
but  one  almost  inevitable  result — demoralization,  if  not 
total  annihilation  of  him  who  rashly  assailed  these  well- 
nigh  invincible  forces  in  their  own  stronghold. 

Nor  could  he  understand  the  strange  and  seemingly 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  265 

reckless  indifference  of  these  men  as  to  the  outcome 
of  this  struggle.  The  admitted  ignorance  of  the  two 
(and  others  not  in  evidence)  trusting  their  all  so  im- 
plicitly to  the  keeping  of  a  man  but  little  older  than 
himself,  to  fight  a  financial  battle  involving  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  against  one  of  the  great  money 
powers  of  the  country,  seemed  to  him  little  less  than 
blind  faith;  while  the  supreme  indifference  and  even 
levity  of  that  one  in  these  trying  moments  preceding 
the  beginning  of  that  struggle  was,  to  say  the  least,  ill 
timed  and  must  certainly  be  attributed  to  a  miscon- 
ception of  the  strength  of  the  forces  he  was  pitted 
against. 

The  young  man  too  little  understood  the  rigorous 
training  these  men  had  undergone  to  intelligently  ap- 
prehend the  cause  of  this  blind  faith  and  careless  in- 
difference. He  was  not  aware  that  every  nerve,  bone 
and  sinew  in  their  bodies  had  been  innured  to  hardship, 
and  their  mentalities  steeled  to  self-control  through  years 
of  conflict  with  men  and  elements  in  their  wildest  and 
most  turbulent  forms.  These  men  carried  their  lives 
in  their  hands  (so  to  speak)  and  the  same  fearless  hearts 
that  had  enabled  them  to  contend  against  greater  odds 
for  heavier  stakes  would  not  fail  them  in  their  present 
struggle  to  gain  possession  of  their  own,  and  perhaps 
mete  out  just  retribution  to  the  despoilers  of  their  rights 
and  property.  Or,  should  failure  be  their  portion,  the 
same  indomitable  wills  would  place  them  on  their  feet 
ready  for  another  and  a  harder  struggle.  Such  happen- 
ings were  but  incidents  in  their  lives,  not  recklessly 
sought,  nor  yet  timidly  avoided,  and  what  to  many  might 
be  pain  and  crucifixion,  was  to  them  not  without  a  cer- 


266  MISTER  BILL 

tain  zest  and  pleasure,  so  thoroughly  had  their  natures 
become  attuned  to  the  extremes  of  life — a  cultivated  taste, 
and  like  their  cigars,  must  "bite"  to  afford  the  keenest 
satisfaction. 

"Lining  up!"  Jack  remarked,  sententiously,  noting 
the  time,  as  the  ticker  emitted  a  few  ominous  ticks. 
"They'll  be  off  in  a  couple  of  minutes." 

"All  right,  Jack,"  said  Waldron,  "stand  by  and  let  us 
know  how  they  get  away.  If  she  begins  to  slide  give 
Dave  and  Joe  the  word.  They  will  have  urgent  business 
with  a  couple  of  holes  in  the  ground,  if  I  am  not  mis- 
taken. Any  old  pea-pod  will  be  about  my  size,"  he  added, 
under  his  breath,  as  he  seated  himself  at  his  desk. 

"They're  off!"  Jack  suddenly  announced.  "Here  she 
comes — first  rattle  out  of  the  box — five  hundred  N.  M. 
C.  P.  at  thirty-nine — three  hundred — five  hundred  at  an 
eighth  —  two  hundred  —  one  hundred  —  same  —  same  — 
three  hundred  at  a  quarter — five  hundred  at  a  half,"  he 
called,  sometimes  continuously,  and  again  at  intervals,  as 
the  tape  recorded  the  transactions,  "and  she's  holding  all 
right!"  he  declared,  continuing  to  call  off  varying  quan- 
tities and  prices. 

"That's  right,  Jack — that's  what  I  want  to  know,"  said 
Waldron. 

To  the  young  man  this  clashing  of  financial  forces 
was  fraught  with  deep  significance ;  he  viewed  it  from  a 
totally  different  standpoint  than  did  the  older  men.  To 
him  it  was  the  natural  order  of  things — the  way  of  life 
and  living — and  to  the  victor  would  belong  the  spoils. 
It  was  his  education — the  training  he  was  undergoing 
each  day — the  routine  of  his  business.  As  he  eagerly 
scanned  the  characters  on  the  tape  his  flushed  face  and 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  267 

snapping  eyes  betrayed  the  excitement  under  which  he 
was  laboring.  In  spirit  he  was  at  the  side  of  the  arena. 
He  could  see  the  crowd  of  excited  and  perspiring  men 
pulling,  pushing,  and  elbowing  each  other  about,  the 
while  they  gesticulated  and  shouted  wildly  and  hoarsely 
in  their  frantic  efforts  to  make  themselves  heard  above 
the  deafening  din.  He  could  hear  the  sharp  piercing 
cries  of  triumph  rising  above  the  groans  of  chagrin  and 
yells  of  derision  as  the  conflict  waged  fiercer  and  fiercer. 
He  could  see  their  flushed  and  pallid  faces  taking  on  a 
deeper  hue  as  the  battle  turned  for  or  against  them.  He 
could  read  in  their  strained  and  set  features  the  fearful 
struggle  of  overwrought  mentalities — some  weak  and 
protesting,  others  bold  and  defiant — each  intent  upon 
the  conquest  of  his  fellow  man.  He  breathed  the  excite- 
ment— he  was  one  with  them ;  he  was  on  the  side  that  was 
shouting  triumphantly  today,  but  tomorrow — let  tomor- 
row care  for  itself. 

The  spirit  of  the  ages  when  man  could  view  with 
equanimity  the  rending  of  his  fellow-beings  by  savage 
beasts  was  not  extinct.  He  had  progressed  to  the  extent 
of  descending  into  the  pit  and  fighting  his  brother  to 
the  death.  The  youth  was  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the 
times. 

"They're  coming  along  with  a  clatter — just  falling  over 
themselves  to  head  off  old  Consolidated,"  he  cried. 

"They  will  discover  a  dark  horse  in  the  race  before 
long  at  the  pace  they  have  set,"  Waldron  quietly  observed 
from  behind  his  desk. 

"That's  the  Burrows  combination  trying  to  make  a 
runaway  race  of  it — that's  his  system.  He  goes  after  the 
crowd  from  the  jump,  and  runs  them  to  a  standstill,  and 


268  MISTER  BILL 

then  comes  on  and  wins  as  he  likes.  But  he's  found  a 
pace-maker  today,"  cried  Jack,  exultantly. 

"They  are  simply  playing  into  our  hands  to  force  the 
pace,"  was  Waldron's  brief  comment. 

"Hoop !  But  they're  holding  a  hot  pace !"  cried  Jack, 
beside  himself  with  excitement.  "The  harder  they  lash 
her  the  faster  she  goes — she's  taken  the  bit  in  her  teeth 
and  is  running  away  with  them.  Forty-one,  Mister  Bill — 
half  —  three-quarters  —  seven-eighths  —  forty-two !"  he 
called,  in  quick  succession,  dancing  up  and  down  in  his 
excitement.  Your  men  are  taking  it  in  as  fast  as  it  comes 
along.  Forty-three  now,  and  slowing  up  a  little.  They 
have  just  about  discovered  the  dark  horse." 

An  interval  of  comparative  quiet  followed  the  first 
fierce  onslaught  on  the  stock,  which  continued  with 
periods  of  slight  cessation  for  a  half  hour  or  more.  Dave 
and  Joe  smoked  on  with  serene  imperturbability,  seem- 
ingly oblivious  of  the  fact  that  a  furicus  conflict  was 
being  waged  not  far  distant  upon  the  result  of  which 
depended,  in  no  small  measure,  their  worldly  possessions. 
"There's  plenty  of  games  we  know  a  thing  or  two  about, 
but  this  'ere  ain't  one  of  'em,  and  we  ain't  chippin'  and 
botherin'  the  man  that's  playin'  the  hand,"  Dave  conde- 
scended to  remark  in  further  extenuation  of  their  nega- 
tive attitude. 

"They're  cutting  loose  again!"  cried  Jack.  "Getting 
their  second  wind  and  coming  at  us  once  more!  It's 
simply  raining  Consolidated  Properties.  And  still  they 
come !  Help !  Help !  Mercy !"  he  fairly  shouted,  unable 
to  control  his  excitement. 

"What !"  he  cried,  scanning  the  tape  incredulously,  "is 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  269 

this  my  little  railroad  bobbing  up  and  down  like  a  new 
spring  bonnet— the  N.  M.  C— Mister  Bill?" 

"The  same,"  briefly  replied  Waldron.  "Want  to  part 
with  your  pictures  at  present  quotations?" 

"Slowing  down  again !"  Jack  announced,  after  a  while. 
"Mr.  James  T.  Burrows  will  begin  to  think  that  the  moral 
law  is  a  stern  reality — if  nothing  breaks." 

"His  acquaintance  with  anything  pertaining  thereto 
is  so  extremely  limited,  that  he  must  needs  butt  up  against 
it  a  few  times  before  he  realizes  that  the  Burrows  code 
is  not  in  operation  in  this  particular  transaction,"  Wald- 
ron grimly  observed,  apparently  more  to  himself  than  for 
the  edification  of  his  companions. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  condition  of  the  enemy, 
Waldron,  to  all  appearances,  held  his  forces  well  in 
hand.  He  had  made  numerous  rapid  calculations,  offered 
occasional  replies  to  Jack's  running  fire  of  information 
and  comment,  and  was  ever  ready  with  clear  and  con- 
cise replies  for  his  brokers,  confined  for  the  most  part 
to  "yes,"  "no"  or  "all  right,"  delivered  seemingly  with- 
out the  slightest  doubt  or  hesitation.  Whatever  the 
outcome  of  the  struggle,  be  it  said  to  his  credit  that  he 
fought  a  good  fight,  and  in  all  ways  showed  himself  to  be 
as  cool  under  fire  as  the  most  intrepid  veteran  of 
finance. 

"Any  idee,  Mister  Bill,  who  started  that  'ere  slide  to 
workin'?  Some  purty  toler'ble  rocks  'pear  to  be  comin' 
down,"  Dave  was  finally  moved  to  inquire. 

"Do  you  remember  that  night  over  on  Devil's  Ridge 
that  we  treed  the  cat,  and  you  brought  her  down?"  in- 
quired Waldron,  completing  a  calculation,  before  interro- 
gating the  other  by  way  of  reply. 


270  MISTER  BILL 

"Sartin,  I  do." 

"Did  you  see  her?" 

"Can't  say  as  how  I  did,  Mister  Bill,  but  I  spied  a 
couple  of  green  lights,  and  I  'lowed  the  rest  of  the  cat 
couldn't  be  far  off,  and  I  let  go — and  she  dropped." 

"Felt  tolerably  sure  of  bringing  her  down?" 

"Fair  to  middlin',  I  reckon." 

"Well  Dave,  that  is  just  about  the  present  state  of 
affairs.  I  followed  several  trails,  and  finally  succeeded 
in  treeing  the  game.  The  game,  however,  was  not  aware 
of  the  fact,  and  is  only  now  discovering  that  it  is  up  a 
tree.  Like  our  cat,  it  cannot  come  down,  and  the  top  of 
the  tree  is  the  limit  in  the  other  direction.  I  have  let 
go,  and  I  expect  something  to  drop  before  long." 

"Moving  again!"  Jack  announced.  "They  are  throw- 
ing it  at  you  in  blocks — thousand — two  thousand — three 
thousand — but  it's  moving  steadily  up — forty-five  now, 
Mister  Bill,"  he  cried  with  increasing  excitement. 

"They  are  trying  to  break  our  backs  in  a  final  effort — 
it's  their  only  hope,"  quietly  replied  Waldron.  "If  my 
calculations  are  correct  they  have  thrown  over  all  the 
stock  in  their  possession  and  are  now  selling  something 
they  do  not  possess — and  which  they  will  find  consider- 
able difficulty  in  delivering,"  he  added,  significantly. 

"Forty-seven!"  cried  Jack.  "They  have  stirred  up  a 
swarm  of  bees  with  all  their  racket  and  brought  the  dear 
public  in  to  enjoy  a  sip  of  their  honey — the  lambs  are 
avenging  themselves  today." 

"Their  assistance  has  been  most  timely — they  will 
be  duly  rewarded,"  Waldron  briefly  observed. 

"Ah,  I  see!"  laughed  Jack.  "While  you  were  quietly 
cornering  the  stock  and  steadily  raising  the  price  you 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  271 

were  creating  an  interest  on  the  part  of  the  public  that 
brought  it  in  to  take  a  hand  when  you  began  to  jump 
the  price  up  today — it  was  the  signal  for  all  hands  to 
go  aboard.  Result — Mr.  Burrows  has  been  caught  in 
his  own  trap.  He  must  have  been  surprised  at  the  rav- 
enous appetite  the  public  suddenly  developed  for  Con- 
solidated Properties.  Forty-nine — and  still  going." 

"I  reckon  some  feller's  tongue  may  be  hangin'  out 
about  now,  Mister  Bill  ?"  Joe  suggested,  as  the  other  con- 
cluded a  conversation  over  the  telephone. 

"None  visible  here,  Joe." 

"How  is  it,  Mister  Bill,  if  the  varmints  get  good  and 
cornered,  can  they  sneak  off  into  any  holes  where  you 
can't  get  at  'em  ?"  inquired  bloodthirsty  Dave  Bishop. 

"Well,  yes,  Dave,  such  a  possibility  does  exist;  but 
the  holes  into  which  they  would  be  compelled  to  slink 
are  rather  disagreeable  and  ill  smelling  places  of  refuge, 
and  they  will  stand  considerable  prodding  before  turning 
tail." 

"Stopped  short,  Mister  Bill!"  Jack  suddenly  cried, 
closely  scanning  the  tape  fearful  lest  something  had  es- 
caped him.  "What's  happened?"  he  demanded,  quite 
startled. 

"They  have  suddenly  discovered  themselves  trapped," 
coolly  replied  Waldron,  "or,"  pausing  with  ominous  sug- 
gestiveness,  "they  have  scented  mischief  and  stopped 
short  on  the  very  brink  of  the  pitfall." 

That  the  enemy  had  been  beaten  in  the  preliminary 
skirmish  was  now  apparent.  The  temporary  control  of 
the  market  had  been  wrested  from  him — the  sudden  with- 
drawal of  his  forces  the  acknowledgment.  So  far  all 
was  well,  but  unless  he  had  walked  well  into  the  trap 


272  MISTER  BILL 

laid  for  him  no  permanent  advantage  had  been  gained 
and  he  would  be  the  same  old  enemy  goaded  to  greater 
fury  and  desperation  in  thus  being  balked  of  his  prey. 
For  a  brief  interval  no  word  was  spoken.  The  ticker 
clattered  on  spasmodically.  Each  man  was  busy  with 
his  own  thoughts ;  each  realized  that  for  better  or  worse 
— for  victory  or  defeat — the  deciding  blow  had  been 
struck.  But  one,  better  than  the  others,  knew  the  mean- 
ing of  that  victory  or  defeat.  The  sense  of  his  responsi- 
bility came  suddenly  home  to  him ;  for  the  moment  he  was 
as  the  gambler  who  stakes  his  money,  his  home,  his  repu- 
tation— his  all — on  the  turn  of  a  card — and  that  card  is 
withheld  from  him. 

"Shootin'  all  over,  young  'un — or  loadin'  up  for  an- 
other scrimmage?"  asked  Dave,  finally  breaking  the  si- 
lence. 

"She's  climbing  up  fast  on  slow  sales — how  is  that  for 
a  paradox  ?  Guess  they  threw  a  fit  when  they  found  they 
couldn't  budge  old  Consolidated,  and  your  men  are 
putting  her  up  where  the  dead  won't  be  tempted  to  rise 
until  you  are  ready  to  take  the  corpse  off  the  ice,"  said 
Jack. 

"Young  'un,"  laughed  Dave,  "you  know  a  lingo  all  your 
own  like  Joe  and  me,  and  if  you  say  the  word  we'll  take 
you  out  on  the  range  with  us  and  make  a  man  of  you." 

"There's  a  paradox  for  you,  Jack,"  said  Waldron,  con- 
siderably amused  at  the  rather  questionable  compliment 
bestowed  upon  the  young  man. 

"Joe  and  me  are  goin'  out  to  stretch  up  a  bit,  Mister 
Bill.  You  think  as  how  we  might  get  a  nigh  squint 
at  that  'ere  corpse?"  inquired  Dave. 

"I  am  not  quite  sure  that  the  corrupt  body  is  prepared 


MEN  OF  IRON  NERVE  273 

to  admit  its  defeat,  but  if  you  happen  around  in  the 
course  of  an  hour  or  so  the  ghost  may  be  walking — pro- 
vided that  life  is  really  extinct,"  said  Waldron,  with  due 
conservatism. 

"That's  right,  Mister  Bill.  You  ain't  never  sure  of 
some  chaps  till  they're  planted.  We'll  be  back,  sartin, 
sure." 


CHAPTER  XXIX 
WHO  THE  DEVIL  ARE  YOU? 

SOME  time  later  Waldron,  the  sole  occupant  of 
his  office,  was  busily  engaged  at  his  desk,  when 
the  door  was  suddenly  thrown  open,  and  four 
gentlemen  ushered  themselves  in  without  cere- 
mony.    The  foremost,  none  other  than  Mr.  Burrows — 
evidently  in  no  very  amiable  frame  of  mind — followed 
by  Mr.  Morrison,  Mr.  Lowe  and  Mr.  Chadeller,  in  the 
order  named.     The  entrance  of  these  gentlemen  seemed 
not  to  surprise  the  lone  occupant  of  the  office,  nor  to 
interest  him  to  the  extent  of  taking  his  attention  from 
the  array  of  figures  before  him. 

"I  wish  to  see  the  President  of  Consolidated  Prop- 
erties— Burrows  is  my  name,"  that  gentleman  announced, 
somewhat  pompously. 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  individual  addressed,  appar- 
ently not  deeply  impressed  by  the  declaration. 

"My  business  is  important — I  am  in  something  of  a 
hurry,  young  man,"  the  portly  financier  impatiently  de- 
clared. 

"What  can  I  do  for  you,  Mr.  Burrows?"  was  the 
affable  inquiry. 

"My  business  is  with  the  President  of  the  company — 
I  wish  to  see  him." 

"Your  wish  is  gratified,  sir,"  replied  Waldron,  laying 
274 


WHO  THE  DEVIL  ARE  YOU?  275 

down  his  pen,  and  settling  back  in  his  chair,  "How  can  I 
serve  you?" 

"Your  pardon,  sir — I  had  expected  to  find  an  older 
man,"  replied  Mr.  Burrows,  unbending  somewhat,  and 
manifestly  surprised  as  he  recognized  the  man  before 
him.  "We  have  called  upon  you,  sir,"  he  continued,  with 
characteristic  assurance,  "in  reference  to  the  stock  of 
your  company.  You  are  doubtless  aware  there  has  been 
something  of  a  skirmish  in  the  stock  this  morning — taken 
quite  an  upward  turn  in  fact.  There  seems  to  be  a  tem- 
porary shortage  of  the  stock,  and  we  wish  to  arrange  with 
you  for  use,  or  outright  purchase,  of  sufficient  to  tide 
us  over  the  present  embarrassment.  In  the  meantime, 
we  may  be  able  to  come  to  some  understanding  whereby 
each  may  serve  the  best  interests  of  the  other  in  future 
transactions. 

"We  are  not  selling,  Mr.  Burrows — we  are  buying." 

"Ah,  I  see.  It  is  your  people  who  have  run  the 
corner?  Your  brokers  were  rather  noncommittal  as  to 
the  identity  of  their  principals.  Not  so  bad,  after  all," 
he  laughed,  forcing  a  certain  assumption  of  levity. 
"Rather  fortunate  on  the  whole,  since  we  can  kill  two 
birds  with  one  stone — arrange  this  little  matter  of  the 
present,  as  well  as  a  basis  for  future  operations.  The 
time  is  now  ripe  for  a  good  turn — " 

"One  moment,  Mr.  Burrows,"  Waldron  quietly  inter- 
posed. "Matters  may  be  somewhat  simplified  if  you  are 
made  to  understand  that  The  Consolidated  Properties  are 
now  managing  their  own  affairs — exclusively.  It  has 
been  considered  advisable  for  good  and  sufficient  reasons 
to  take  the  stock  practically  off  the  market,  at  least  for 
the  present,  and  to  that  end  we  are  buying — not  selling." 


276  MISTER  BILL 

The  surprise  of  the  other  visitors  as  they  recognized 
the  man  with  whom  they  were  compelled  to  deal  was 
even  more  marked  than  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Burrows,  and 
if  not  positively  embarrassing,  was  far  from  reassuring. 
Mr.  Chadeller  was  not  only  surprised,  but  visibly  annoyed, 
and  for  a  moment  seemed  undecided  whether  to  beat 
a  retreat,  or  to  stand  his  ground,  but  he  finally  set  him- 
self to  pacing  back  and  forth  across  the  opposite  side  of 
the  office. 

"We  have  called  upon  you,  my  dear  sir,"  replied  Mr. 
Burrows  with  his  most  impressive  dignity,  "to  arrange 
an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  matter  whereby  you  will 
profit  not  less  than  ourselves,  and  you  will  find  upon 
looking  the  situation  over  carefully  that  our  interests 
are  too  closely  allied  to  warrant,  or  even  to  permit  you 
to  ignore  our  propositions — " 

"We  evidently  do  not  understand  each  other,  Mr.  Bur- 
rows," Waldron  again  quietly  but  firmly  interposed.  "I 
will  endeavor  to  make  myself  perfectly  clear.  You  have 
favored  me  with  your  presence  simply  because  no  other 
course  is  open  to  you.  You  have  fired  your  last  shot, 
and  instead  of  hauling  down  your  flag  like  men  and 
asking  for  terms  of  surrender,  you  would  have  me  be- 
lieve that  you  are  doing  me  a  very  great  favor  by  crawling 
out  of  the  corner  in  which  you  have  so  unexpectedly 
found  yourselves,  and  where  I  am  holding  you  like  rats 
in  a  trap.  Failing  in  this,  you  would  intimidate  me  by 
a  bluff,  which  only  too  plainly  for  your  purpose  echoes 
the  hollowness  of  your  knowledge  that  the  game  is  up, 
and  you  are  simply  grasping  at  the  last  straw,  which  you 
do  not  flatter  me  by  inferring  is  my  timidity  and  credu- 
lity. Am  I  clear,  gentlemen?" 


WHO  THE  DEVIL  ARE  YOU?  277 

"Surely,  sir,"  replied  Mr.  Burrows,  with  considerable 
warmth,  "you  are  laboring  under  a  misapprehension  of 
the  conditions — you  simply  do  not  grasp  the  situation  in 
all  its  bearings.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  we  are  far  more 
necessary  to  you  in  this  matter,  than  are  you  to  us.  You 
have  a  great  amount  of  stock  on  your  hands,  and  bar- 
gained for,  which  is  practically  without  value,  as  repre- 
senting substantial  equivalent.  Your  mills  are  closed 
and, — to  be  perfectly  frank — your  company  and  property 
worked  out  flat,  which  you  also  know,  if  you  are  well 
informed,  and  will  admit  the  actual  conditions.  It  is, 
therefore,  manifestly  to  your  advantage  to  unload  this 
stock  while  you  are  able  to  take  a  flattering  profit,  and 
we  can  assist  you  to  do  this  to  our  mutual  advantage." 

"Notwithstanding  which,  the  company  elects  to  take 
the  chances  of  managing  its  own  affairs,"  said  Waldron, 
with  quiet  decision.  "You  have  chosen  in  times  past  to 
force  your  assistance  upon  us.  We  have  decided  to  dis- 
pense with  your  attentions,  and  have  adopted  the  most 
effectual  means  of  ridding  ourselves  once  and  for  all  of 
associates  not  to  our  liking.  I  don't  mind  telling  you 
that  the  mills  were  shut  down  yesterday  for  your  especial 
benefit.  You  bit — ran  away  with  the  line.  I  don't  mind 
telling  you  also  that  I  have  been  working  for  several 
weeks  to  bring  about  this  particular  result,  and  I  don't 
need  to  tell  you  how  well  I  have  succeeded." 

Rage — purple,  ungovernable  rage — appeared  in  the 
rapidly  changing  expressions  of  Mr.  Burrows'  face  as  he 
gazed  at  the  young  man  who  had  so  boldly  defied  him,  too 
surprised  for  the  moment  to  give  expression  to  the  con- 
flict of  passion  that  shook  his  ponderous  frame.  Was 
he,  the  great  and  proud  man  of  finance,  to  go  down  in 


278  MISTER  BILL 

defeat  before  this  youthful  stranger?  Was  he  to  be 
ignominiously  humbled  before  the  world — his  world — 
where  he  ruled  with  a  mighty  power,  and  where  he  had 
come  to  regard  himself  as  well  nigh  invincible?  In  that 
one  brief  moment  the  long  line  of  his  unbroken  victories 
on  which  he  was  wont  to  pride  himself  seemed  to  pass 
before  him  like  mocking  spectres  of  his  erstwhile  great- 
ness— they  were  as  naught  compared  to  this  one  defeat. 
He  could  never  live  it  down.  His  name  was  a  power — 
it  was  synonymous  with  success ;  his  was  the  magic 
touch  which  brought  victory  out  of  defeat.  He  gloried 
in  his  power,  he  exulted  in  his  success.  He  was  jealous 
of  his  reputation  as  a  successful  financier.  His  ruling 
passion  was  to  become  the  acknowledged  leader — the 
high  potentate — in  the  world  where  money  was  king, 
and  where  mankind  was  but  the  plaything  of  its  caprice. 
He  had  mounted  high  on  the  ladder  of  his  ambition — 
he  was  well  towards  the  topmost  rung;  but  a  few  steps 
more  and  he  would  reach  the  lofty  position  to  which 
his  eyes  had  so  long  been  turned,  and  towards  which 
he  had  steadily  climbed  with  that  indomitable  persever- 
ance which  took  no  heed  of  obstacles,  and  recognized  no 
law  but  the  law  of  desire — the  gratification  of  his  selfish 
ambitions.  And  now — now  with  one  swift  and  almost 
incomprehensible  stroke  the  structure  on  which  he  had 
expended  his  life's  best  efforts,  and  on  which  he  rested 
in  fancied  security,  was  about  to  be  struck  from  under 
him.  Instinctively  he  realized  that  he  had  over-reached 
himself  at  last.  In  that  one  fateful  moment  he  knew 
that  he  had  reached  the  turning  point  in  his  career  and 
that  his  ambitions  were  never  to  be  realized.  As  his 
character  had  contained  the  elements  of  his  strength, 


WHO  THE  DEVIL  ARE  YOU?  279 

it  had  also  contained  the  elements  of  his  weakness ;  a 
greater  law  than  he  knew  was  at  work,  and  the  man 
before  him  was  but  the  instrument  of  its  power.  He 
was  face  to  face  with  justice — stern,  uncompromising 
justice.  He  recognized  it — he  knew  he  was  beaten.  He 
even  felt  his  littleness  as  a  man  compared  with  this  young 
stranger  whose  unflinching  gaze  held  his  own  and 
seemed  to  read  him  through  and  through — the  very 
smallness  of  his  nature  was  laid  bare  even  to  himself. 
Whipped  though  he  was,  he  could  not  tamely  submit. 
The  animal  in  him  must  find  expression — he  bellowed. 

"You  don't  know  me  young  man!  You  have  a  great 
deal  to  learn,  let  me  tell  you — you  are  only  a  boy  in  this 
business,"  he  thundered,  shaking  his  massive  fist.  "In 
the  temporary  advantage  you  have  gained  simply  because 
no  attention  has  been  paid  to  your  movements  with  your 
whipper-snapper  mines  you  think  that  the  game  is  yours. 
It  is  only  just  begun — you  hear  me — just  begun.  Before 
you  have  done  congratulating  yourself  you  will  find  the 
ground  pulled  from  under  your  feet,  and  you  will  be 
begging  for  mercy  where  now  you  fling  back  a  well- 
intentioned  proffer  of  assistance.  Who  the  devil  are 
you,  who  thinks  to  come  here  and  dictate  terms  to  men 
old  enough  to  be  your  father?  Who  are  you,  I  say?  I 
want  to  know  you,  young  man,  and  I'll  teach  you  a 
lesson — " 

"I'll  tell  you  who  I  am,"  the  other  flashed  back,  his 
voice  and  maner  undergoing  a  sudden  change,  as  he  ad- 
vanced towards  Mr.  Burrows  with  no  uncertain  move- 
ment, causing  that  gentleman  to  pause  abruptly  in  his 
speech  and  fall  back  a  step  or  two,  for  even  in  his  anger 
he  had  no  idea  of  measuring  strength  with  this  young 


280  MISTER  BILL 

stalwart.  "I'll  tell  you  who  I  am,  Mr.  Burrows,  since 
you  have  expressed  such  an  enthusiastic  desire  to  know ; 
and  you,  Mr.  Chadeller,  having  also  manifested  consider- 
able curiosity  on  this  same  subject,  may  be  interested/1 
paying  his  respects  to  that  gentleman.  "William  Wald- 
ron,  is  my  name,  Mr.  Burrows.  Charles  L.  Waldron,  a 
man  you  ruined  and  sent  to  his  grave  by  your  damnable 
schemes  and  unscrupulous  methods  that  make  an  honest 
man  but  a  puppet  in  your  clutches,  was  my  father.  Be- 
fore we  have  done  with  each  other  I  venture  to  say  that 
your  desire  to  know  me  will  be  gratified  beyond  your 
most  sanguine  expectations.  That  is  how  I  fear  you, 
Mr.  Burrows." 

"And  so  after  many  years  the  son  has  returned  to 
avenge  the  father — true  to  fiction,  indeed!"  sneeringly 
replied  Mr.  Burrows,  too  surprised  at  this  unexpected 
turn  of  affairs  to  maintain  his  belligerent  attitude.  "My 
dealings  with  your  father,  sir,  I  would  have  you  know, 
were  legitimate — entirely  legitimate — as  are  all  my  deal- 
ings. No  man  can  say  to  the  contrary — my  record  speaks 
for  itself,"  he  strenuously  insisted,  yet  rather  more  on  the 
defensive  than  might  have  been  expected  from  him. 

"Codes  differ,  Mr.  Burrows.  Some  manage  to  evade 
that  which  they  richly  deserve,  and  are  successful  men 
— others  less  fortunate,  are  rogues,"  replied  Waldron, 
very  shortly,  evidently  not  in  an  argumentative  frame  of 
mind.  "I  have  not,  as  you  suggest,  returned  in  the  role 
of  avenger.  However,  as  it  was  to  be,  I  would  rathef 
see  you,  of  all  men,  in  the  particular  position  you  now 
occupy — my  duty  is  less  disagreeable." 

"Well,  what  do  you  ask?"  growled  the  discom- 
fited financier,  with  exceedingly  poor  grace. 


WHO  THE  DEVIL  ARE  YOU?  281 

"I  don't  ask  anything.  My  dealings  with  you,  sir,  are 
in  the  form  of  demands.  Were  I  in  a  position  only  to 
ask,  you  would  not  trouble  yourself  to  inquire,"  replied 
Waldron,  with  cool  composure,  meeting  the  other  on 
his  own  ground. 

"Consolidated  Properties  are  now  quoted  at  seventy," 
said  Mr.  Burrows,  scanning  the  tape.  "You  will  make 
us  a  basis  of  settlement  considerably  less  than  that  figure 
— the  quotation  is  a  mere  detail,"  he  declared,  with  im- 
pressive assurance. 

"Hardly,  Mr.  Burrows — in  fact,  not  anything  like  the 
present  quotation.  The  quotation,  as  you  say,  is  a  mere 
detail,  and  will  shortly  be  higher — very  much  higher.  I 
can  make  it  a  hundred,  two  hundred,  three  hundred  or 
five  hundred,  if  I  choose,  as  you  very  well  know." 

"Do  you  mean  to  rob  me?"  roared  the  outraged  finan- 
cier, his  anger  instantly  at  white  heat. 

"If  that  is  your  interpretation  when  you  apply  the 
same  treatment  to  others  in  a  similar  position  to  your- 
self, I  have  no  objection,"  replied  Waldron,  indiffer- 
ently. "Another  interpretation,  however,  might  be  that 
I  propose  to  recover  some  of  the  money  you  have  taken 
from  us  at  various  times,  some  recompense  for  trouble 
and  annoyances,  interest — " 

"I  won't  stand  it,  sir — I  won't  stand  it!  I'll  see  you 
hanged  before  I'll  submit  to  any  such  outrage!  I'll  see 
you — " 

"All  this  is  entirely  aside  from  the  point  at  issue,  Mr. 
Burrows,"  interposed  Waldron,  stemming  an  increased 
outburst  of  anger  on  the  part  of  the  infuriated  gentleman. 
"My  brokers  are  in  possession  of  the  terms  of  settlement. 
You  may  arrange  the  matter  with  them  or  not,  as  you 


282  MISTER  BILL 

choose.  Of  the  alternative,  you  are  well  aware.  Within 
an  hour  from  your  refusal  of  settlement  the  telegraph 
will  tell  the  world  of  the  unenviable  position  Burrows  & 
Company  have  made  for  themselves.  Possibly  an  extra 
or  two  may  be  issued  in  your  honor,  and  every  news 
urchin  in  the  country  will  cry  your — " 

"I  don't  believe  you  could  pay  for  the  stock  if  we 
delivered  it !  I  don't  believe — " 

"Your  position  certainly  behooves  you  to  make  the  ex- 
periment, Mr.  Burrows,  and  when  we  fail  you  will  be 
relieved  of  an  embarrassing  situation,"  Waldron  once 
more  interposed,  to  the  evident  discomfort  not  only  of 
Mr.  Burrows,  but  of  his  faithful  followers,  who  up  to 
this  time  had  refrained  from  taking  any  active  part  in 
the  conversation,  and  to  whom  it  was  now  apparent  that 
their  purpose  was  not  being  subserved  by  the  bluffs  and 
threats  of  their  angry  leader. 

"Surely,  Mr.  Waldron,"  said  Mr.  Morrison,  in  his 
suavest  tones,  "surely  there  must  be  some  way  to  an 
amicable  adjustment  of  this  matter.  Can  you  afford, 
even  though  you  may  possess  some  temporary  advantage, 
to  entirely  ignore  the  proposition  we  are  making  you? 
The  arrangements  we  suggest  will  make  you  a  great  deal 
of  money — a  very  great  deal — which  your  directors  may 
not  feel  inclined  to  rashly  cast  aside.  I  have  no  doubt 
that  money  is  a  consideration  to  them  as  well  as  to  us 
all,"  smiling  blandly,  seemingly  well  satisfied  that  he 
had  advanced  an  incontrovertible  argument. 

"My  directors  are  in  full  accord  with  me  in  this 
matter,  Mr.  Morrison,"  replied  Waldron,  with  cold  for- 
mality. 

"We  are  sometimes  carried  away  by  the  impetuosity 


WHO  THE  DEVIL  ARE  YOU?  283 

of  youth,"  continued  Mr.  Morrison,  apparently  not  too 
well  pleased  with  the  result  of  his  first  effort.  "Youth  is 
the  time  of  hope  and  confidence  and  we  are  prone  to 
over-estimate  our  strength  in  the  light  of  some  slight 
success  achieved.  We  older  men  have  long  since  learned 
the  lesson  that  youthful  impetuosity  and  over  confidence 
teaches,  and  we  are  satisfied  to  accept  that  which  comes 
within  our  reach  today,  rather  than  to  build  castles  in  the 
air  for  future  occupancy,  only  to  find  them  crumbled  to 
pieces  by  forces  we  could  not  foresee.  Perhaps,  sir,"  paus- 
ing for  a  moment  and  smiling  with  elderly  indulgence, 
"you  have  men  of  mature  years  on  your  board  of  direc- 
tors whose  ideas  would  not  differ  from  those  which  I 
have  expressed,  and  who — to  use  a  homely  simile — would 
prefer  a  bird  in  the  hand  to  several  in  the  bush.  We 
have  not  talked  the  matter  over  among  ourselves,  but  I 
am  quite  sure  we  could  make  it  to  your  interest — your 
personal  interest,  understand — if  you  were  to  favor  this 
idea  with  your  directors,  which  will  net  you  a  very  hand- 
some sum  entirely  apart  from  the  original  deal  in  which 
your  company  will  profit  none  the  less." 

"I  also  had  a  similar  thought  in  mind,"  said  Mr.  Lowe, 
with  patronizing  affability.  "Mr.  Waldron  has  shown 
himself  a  young  man  possessed  of  most  exceptional  abil- 
ities, and  I  am  thoroughly  convinced  that  we  should 
make  him  some  very  substantial  inducements  to  combine 
forces  with  us.  All  things  considered,  he  seems  a  man 
peculiarly  adapted  to  our  particular  requirements.  Young 
blood — we  need  young  blood  to  assist  in  handling  the 
tremendous  enterprises  which  are  now  the  order  of  the 
day  in  these  strenuous  times  of  ours.  And  I  may  also 
add — and  in  this,  gentlemen,  I  am  sure  I  but  voice  your 


284  MISTER  BILL 

heartiest  sentiments,"  deferring  to  his  companions,  "in 
forming  business  relations  with  us,  Mr.  Waldron  also 
becomes  one  of  us  socially,  and  I  trust,"  smiling  benig- 
nantly  upon  that  young  man,  "he  will  not  decide  hastily, 
but  will  give  the  matter  further  and  very  serious  consid- 
eration." 

"Thank  you,  gentlemen — thank  you !"  replied  Waldron, 
regarding  the  men  with  something  of  amused  pity  and 
contempt.  "I  could  not  possibly  consider  your  propo- 
sitions for  two  reasons — the  first  annuls  the  second,  and 
the  second  you  would  hardly  comprehend." 

"We  have  a  fairly  good  understanding  of  the  common- 
places, Mr.  Waldron,  and  I  dare  say  we  shall  be  able  to 
grasp  your  meaning,"  replied  Mr.  Burrows,  gravely  sar- 
castic. 

"Well,  then,  the  first,  because  I  agree  with  Mr.  Mor- 
rison, perfectly — I  have  too  good  a  possibility  in  my 
hand  to  drop  for  several  in  the  bush.  You  doubtless 
understand  that  without  difficulty,  Mr.  Burrows.  As  I 
said  before,  the  first  annuls  the  second.  Know  then,  that 
associated  with  me  in  this  enterprise  are  men  of  the 
mountains,  rough  fellows  all,  but  true  as  steel.  These 
men  have  entrusted  their  all  to  me  with  implicit  confi- 
dence that  I  will  look  after  their  interests  to  the  best  of 
my  ability,  and — this,  gentlemen,  will  be  the  anomaly 
to  you — your  combined  wealth  doubled  and  trebled  would 
be  no  inducement  for  me  to  make  one  move  that  I  did 
not  honestly  believe  was  for  the  best  interests  of  all  con- 
cerned. Your  gold  would  not  repay  me  for  betraying  their 
confidence.  I  take  no  credit  to  myself — I  don't  know 
any  other  way  to  figure  the  general  problem.  I  simply 
don't  know  how  to  hold  gold  at  a  higher  value  than  I 


WHO  THE  DEVIL  ARE  YOU?  285 

hold  my  self  respect.  When  I  sacrifice  that,  then  shall  I 
consider  myself  your  equal  and  prepared  to  listen  to 
your  glittering  schemes  of  business,  your  suave  blandish- 
ments for  social  distinction,  drink  your  wines,  and  rate 
myself  a  bully  good  fellow  according  to  your  peculiar 
standards.  Gentlemen,  I  consider  your  propositions  not 
only  an  insult  to  me  as  a  man,  but  an  exceedingly  small 
and  cheap  estimate  upon  my  business  perspicacity.  The 
former  I  might  overlook,  considering  the  source,  but 
the  latter  is  far  too  grave  an  offense  to  be  lightly  con- 
doned," he  told  them,  with  a  grim  humor  that  accorded 
well  with  the  equally  grim  sarcasm  of  his  words. 

Altogether  the  gentlemen  had  received  a  most  uncom- 
fortable shock  as  they  realized  the  utter  futility  of  at- 
tempting to  work  their  influence  over  the  man  who  com- 
pelled not  only  a  certain  respect  for  himself  as  a  man, 
but  feelings  akin  to  fear  by  the  power  he  held  over  them. 

"W-h-o-o-p!  W-h-o-o-p!"  suddenly  rang  out  two 
blood-curdling  yells  which  seemed  to  cause  the  walls  and 
ceiling  to  vibrate  and  give  back  another,  and  yet  another 
of  their  kind,  creating  no  little  dismay  among  the  oc- 
cupants of  the  room,  who  were  thus  rudely  made  aware 
of  the  presence  of  two  very  animated  specimens  of  West- 
ern life  and  vigor.  Dave  and  Joe  had  entered  the  office 
unobserved,  and  the  concluding  remarks  of  their  young 
friend  struck  a  responsive  chord  in  their  robust  bosoms, 
to  which  they  gave  prompt  and  informal  expression. 

"Solemn  enough  to  be  corpses !  Don't  see  as  they  look 
no  different  from  any  dead  men  as  come  to  life  and  sorry 
they  did,"  said  Joe,  scanning  the  gentlemen  curiously 
with  his  sharp  eyes. 

"I  reckon,  Mister  Bill,  seein'  as  how  they've  finished 


286  MISTER  BILL 

their  business  they're  about  ready  to  go  down  the  hist," 
said  Dave,  with  suggestive  emphasis,  which  query  the 
gentlemen  answered  for  themselves  by  making  as  hasty 
an  exit  as  their  dignity — or  what  remained  of  the  super- 
abundance they  brought  with  them — would  permit.  All 
except  Mr.  Chadeller,  who  throughout  the  interview  had 
maintained  a  discreet  silence,  seemingly  not  vitally  in- 
terested in  the  particular  matter  under  discussion. 

"I  feel,  Mr.  Waldron,  that  I  owe  you  an  apology," 
he  said,  not  without  embarrassment,  as  he  advanced 
toward  that  gentleman,  not  quite  sure  of  his  reception. 
"I  was  not  aware — " 

"You  have  business  with  me,  Mr.  Chadeller?"  Wald- 
ron inquired,  very  courteously. 

"Yes.  The  fact  is,  I  am  also  short  a  small  amount  of 
your  stock.  I  do  not  feel  that  I  am  entitled  to  any  cour- 
tesies at  your  hands.  I  can  only  hope  that  you  will  feel 
inclined  to  accord  me  the  consideration  of  one  business 
man  to  another.  It  is  only  fair  to  myself  to  say,  how- 
ever, that  my  connection  with  this  affair  is  entirely  apart 
from  the  gentlemen  with  whom  you  have  been  dealing. 
Nor  have  I  been  connected  with  any  previous  transactions 
in  the  stock.  I  merely  took  a  flyer  this  morning  at  the 
suggestion  of  Mr.  Burrows,  and  immediately  found  my- 
self in  trouble — the  result  of  following  the  advice  of  a 
friend,  and  going  outside  of  one's  own  specialties." 

"Very  well,  Mr.  Chadeller,  I  will  instruct  my  brokers 
to  settle  with  you  at  the  market,  which  I  trust  will  be 
satisfactory." 

"Entirely  so,  and  I  thank  you  for  the  consideration. 
I  trust  there  are  no  hard  feelings  between  us,  Mr.  Wald- 
ron?" 


WHO  THE  DEVIL  ARE  YOU?  287 

"None,  Mr.  Chadeller,"  briefly  replied  the  other,  re- 
suming his  chair. 

"I  hope  we  shall  see  more  of  you  in  the  future.  I 
knew  your  father  well,  and  entertained  a  very  great  re- 
spect for  him — " 

"Pardon  me,  Mr.  Chadeller,"  said  Waldron,  turning 
in  his  chair,  and  regarding  the  other  fixedly  for  a  mo- 
ment, "I  am  precisely  the  same  man  today  as  last  evening, 
and  upon  one  other  occasion  when  we  chanced  to  meet. 
You  were  pleased  to  place  your  stamp  of  disapproval 
upon  me  as  a  man.  By  that  standard  I  prefer  to  be 
judged  rather  than  by  any  former  position  which  may 
or  may  not  have  been  mine.  The  privilege  was  yours — 
I  abide  your  decision.  Our  relations  are  purely  business 
and,  I  believe — concluded." 

Good-day,  thus  invited,  was  promptly  offered  and 
echoed. 

"  'Pears  to  me  a  good  wallopin'  wouldn't  do  him  no 
more  harm  than  the  rest  of  'em — you  let  that  feller  off 
purty  easy,  Mister  Bill,"  said  Dave,  rather  disgustedly, 
as  the  door  closed  after  the  gentleman. 

"Yes,  Dave.  He  is  not  one  of  the  particular  and 
select  coterie,  and  we  are  not  holding  a  man  up  simply 
because  we  can  put  a  gun  at  his  head,"  replied  Waldron. 

"Maybe  you're  right,  Mister  Bill,  maybe  you're  right, 
but  I  allus  believe  in  puttin'  your  weight  on  a  rattler 
when  you've  got  him  sort  of  handy  like  under  your  heel. 
Don't  do  no  harm  to  nobody,  and  might  do  a  sight  of 
good." 


CHAPTER  XXX 

MAN  TO  MAN 

IT'S   the   reigning   sensation!     The   evening   papers 
fairly    bristle    with     excitement    and     importance. 
Brought  down  a  bunch — got  them  all.     Thought 
you  might  like   to  become  acquainted   with  your- 
self.   You  are  supplied  with  a  life  history  gratis,  I  imag- 
ine.   You  are  the  wonder  of  the  age — the  Napoleon  of 
Finance — in  big  type,  if  you  please.     They  have  unfor- 
tunately detracted  from  your  good  looks — worked  in  a 
convenient  baseball  player   for  the  phenomenal  young 
financier,  I  dare  say.    You  don't  seem  any  the  worse  for 
your  experience,"  said  Jack,  critically  regarding  his  guest, 
as  he  admitted  him  into  the  familiar  living  room  of  his 
home. 

"No  appreciable  disability  to  date,"  Waldron  briefly 
replied,  seemingly  not  imbued  with  the  enthusiasm  of  his 
young  friend. 

"The  street  seems  to  think  the  whole  affair  a  huge 
joke  on  Burrows  and  his  crowd.  Mighty  few  are  sorry 
that  a  reef  has  finally  been  taken  in  the  old  man's  sails. 
Just  to  think  of  the  old  fellow  walking  up  to  the  captain's 
office  and  writing  his  little  check  for  big  figures,  and 
settling  like  any  of  the  small  fry.  It's  a  new  experience 
for  him ;  he  will  never  forgive  you,  but  I  guess  you  can 
stand  it.  Lots  of  people  know  you — remember  you  as  a 

288 


MAN  TO  MAN  289 

boy — knew  your  father.  Oh!  you  will  have  plenty  of 
friends,  and  they  won't  be  long  in  making  their  ap- 
pearance. I  guess  that  was  why  you  were  willing  to 
come  down  here  tonight — to  get  away  from  the  crowd 
camping  on  your  trail?"  queried  the  young  man,  sud- 
denly realizing  that  his  remarks  were  not  receiving  the 
attention  he  deemed  them  worthy. 

"Partially,  and  partially  because  I  wished  to  see  Mrs. 
Davidge.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  her  affairs  are 
more  or  less  involved  in  the  general  transaction.  I  under- 
stood last  evening  that  she  was  coming  down  today  with 
the  girls." 

"Yes,  they  will  be  here  on  the  next  train.  Did  you 
notice  that  my  little  railroad  developed  considerable 
strength,  or  didn't  you  think  of  it  in  the  general  excite- 
ment?" 

"I  managed  to  keep  it  in  sight,  considering  that  it  was 
a  part  of  the  deal,"  said  Waldron,  smiling  at  the  young 
man's  enthusiasm. 

"•So  that  was  what  brought  it  so  suddenly  to  life?" 

"Yes.  Consolidated  Properties  rescued  the  railroad 
from  bankruptcy,  and  owns  the  controlling  interest.  From 
now  on  the  railroad  will  share  in  the  prosperity  of  the 
whole  district." 

"Even  at  the  present  quotations  my  mother  has  more 
than  sufficient  to  pay  the  mortgage,  and  I  suppose  the 
stock  will  continue  to  increase  in  value,  will  it  not?" 

"Not  an  unreasonable  supposition." 

"And  just  to  think  of  that  despised  little  railroad  bob- 
bing up  like  a  jack-in-the-box!  Mr.  Burrows  probably 
wishes  that  he  had  held  the  stock  a  little  longer.  By 
the  way,  mother  has  been  formally  notified  that  arrange- 


290  MISTER  BILL 

ments  have  been  made  with  Mr.  Chadeller  to  assume 
the  responsibility  of  the  mortgage.  He  has  agreed 
to  carry  it  for  a  year,  and  altogether  Mr.  Burrows 
seemed  to  consider  the  matter  very  well  disposed  of. 
As  he  never  stood  to  lose  any  of  his  own  money,  he  could 
afford  to  make  a  liberal  discount  to  Mr.  Chadeller,  and 
that  shrewd  gentleman  sees  prospective  profits  in  the  rap- 
idly increasing  value  of  the  property,  and  is  content  to 
bide  his  time." 

"Your  conclusions  are  fairly  well  based,  I  should  say, 
young  man.  But  if  you  will  pardon  the  change  from  a 
very  interesting  to  a  very  commonplace  subject — what 
size  collars  do  you  wear?" 

"Come  upstairs,  and  I  will  see  what  I  can  do  for  you," 
laughed  Jack,  leading  the  way. 

At  Waldron's  request,  the  two  had  come  down  to  Jack's 
home,  Jack  preceding  his  guest  by  an  hour  or  more. 
The  day  had  certainly  been  a  most  eventful  one  for  the 
young  financier,  and  he  might  well  feel  elated  with  his 
success.  He  had  come  out  of  the  West  a  stranger  and 
alone ;  he  had  boldly  and  fearlessly  invaded  the  strong- 
hold of  the  enemy;  he  had  quietly  and  deliberately  laid 
his  plans  of  campaign,  and  had  fought  a  sharp  and  de- 
cisive engagement  resulting  in  the  utter  and  complete 
rout  of  his  opponents.  He  not  only  had  made  himself 
and  those  immediately  associated  with  him  richer  by 
many  thousands  of  dollars,  but  had  placed  their  property 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  scheming  and  unscrupulous  in- 
dividuals that  had  preyed  upon  it  for  months,  and  had 
taught  them  a  lesson  they  would  not  soon  forget.  His 
name  was  on  thousands  of  lips  this  night  for  not  alone  in 
the  great  city  but  far  and  wide  the  telegraph  had  sped 


MAN  TO  MAN  291 

the  news  of  the  big  corner  and  the  few  conspicuous  facts 
concerning  the  young  man  to  whom  was  due  the  credit  of 
its  conception  and  execution. 

In  the  city  he  was  eagerly  sought.  Friends  of  his  boy- 
hood from  whose  recollection  he  had  long  since  faded 
were  eager  to  renew  the  acquaintance ;  others  who  knew 
him  not  were  no  less  anxious  to  make  his  acquaintance. 
Reporters  were  lying  in  wait  for  him  to  obtain  more 
detailed  information  concerning  himself  and  the  affair 
for  their  morning  papers.  But  he  was  not  to  be  found  and 
he  might  as  well  have  disappeared  from  off  the  earth 
for  all  the  information  to  be  obtained  of  him  this  night. 
The  penalty  of  success  had  begun  to  clamor  for  an  early 
reckoning. 

"In  this  way,  Mrs.  Winston,  you  will  be  relieved  of  all 
embarrassment  and  responsibility,  and  well  rid  of  the 
mortgage  once  and  for  all."  The  speaker  was  Mr. 
Chadeller,  addressing  Mrs.  Winston,  as  they  entered  the 
living  room,  continuing  a  conversation  begun  in  an  ad- 
joining room.  "As  I  have  explained,  I  am  willing  to  ex- 
change the  mortgage  for  the  stock,  and  take  chances 
of  its  becoming  of  value  to  me  sooner  or  later." 

The  joy  of  the  good  woman  when  she  finally  grasped 
the  full  meaning  of  this  splendid  offer  was  beyond  her 
power  to  express.  The  possibility  of  being  so  easily  rid 
of  the  dark  cloud  hanging  over  the  little  home  like 
an  impending  fate  was  too  good  to  be  true.  In  the  ex- 
citement occasioned  by  this  unexpected  piece  of  good 
fortune  she  had  taken  the  package  of  certificates  from 
the  little  tin  box  in  which  they  had  reposed  since  com- 
ing into  her  possession,  and  was  about  to  hand  them  to 
Mr.  Chadeller,  when  Jack's  admonition  to  take  good  care 


292  MISTER  BILL 

of  them  suddenly  occurred  to  her.  To  be  sure,  Jack 
had  cautioned  her  to  guard  them  well,  yet  what  better 
purpose  could  they  serve  than  to  be  exchanged  for  the 
dread  mortgage — she  knew  of  none.  She  led  the  way 
into  the  living  room  expecting  to  find  Jack.  She  was 
not  aware  of  the  arrival  of  his  friend,  nor  had  Mr. 
Chadeller  any  idea  that  either  was  in  the  house.  Jack 
was  rarely  at  home  except  on  Sundays,  and  an  occasional 
Saturday  afternoon,  and  to  a  knowledge  of  this  fact 
might  safely  be  attributed  Mr.  Chadeller's  presence  in 
the  house  at  this  particular  time.  He  advanced  some 
further  reasons  why  the  exchange  should  be  consum- 
mated without  delay;  indeed,  it  was  all  perfectly  simple, 
the  mere  matter  of  Jack's  approval  the  only  obstacle 
which,  after  all,  was  not  essential,  and  he  would  be  no 
less  pleased  to  be  so  easily  rid  of  the  troublesome  mort- 
gage. 

"Y-e-s,  Mr.  Chadeller,"  she  finally  assented,  "it  seems 
quite  clear  that  I  should  accept  your  very  kind  and  gen- 
erous offer.  I  have  here  the  certificates,  and  if  you  really 
feel  justified  in  making  the  exchange  I  will  surrender 
them  to  you,"  tears  springing  into  the  good  woman's 
eyes,  "and  you  cannot  understand,  Mr.  Chadeller,  how 
very  grateful  I  am — how  grateful  we  all  are — ' 

"Pardon  me,  Mrs.  Winston,"  a  voice  interposed.  "Per- 
mit me,"  the  same  voice  continued,  its  owner  advancing 
and  extending  his  hand  to  relieve  her  of  the  package 
on  which  the  other  man  was  about  closing  his  fingers. 

So  deeply  had  both  been  absorbed  with  the  serious 
matter  engaging  their  attention  that  two  men  had  slowly 
descended  the  stairs,  and  one  had  even  advanced  leisurely 
across  the  room  before  his  presence  was  discovered.  Mrs. 


MAN  TO  MAN  293 

Winston  was  not  a  little  surprised  and  confused  by  this 
strange  proceeding,  yet  she  surrendered  the  papers  with- 
out protest — the  whole  affair  from  beginning  to  end  was 
beyond  her  comprehension. 

Consternation  was  the  portion  of  Mr.  Chadeller,  and 
could  he  have  quietly  dropped  through  the  floor,  he 
would  doubtless  have  made  such  informal  disposition 
of  himself.  Surely  surprises  had  been  his  portion  over- 
much— an  avenging  fate  in  the  person  of  the  man  before 
him  seemed  to  be  hard  upon  his  trail. 

"You  may  safely  entrust  the  matter  with  me  for  the 
moment,  Mrs.  Winston,"  said  Waldron,  "and  Jack," 
addressing  that  young  man,  "I  will  have  a  few  words 
with  the  gentleman,"  whereupon  mother  and  son  with- 
drew, leaving  the  two  men  alone.  The  one,  thought- 
fully contemplating  the  package  of  certificates  he  held 
in  his  hand,  the  other,  waiting  with  ill-concealed  dis- 
comfiture the  next  move  on  the  part  of  the  man  who 
had  arranged  this  private  interview.  Several  times  he 
essayed  to  break  the  embarrassing  silence,  but  his  half- 
formed  words  failed  of  audible  expression. 

The  situation  was  becoming  positively  unbearable 
when  Waldron  slowly  raised  his  eyes  and  studied  the 
other  curiously  for  a  brief  moment  before  breaking  the 
silence.  "Mr.  Chadeller,"  he  finally  said,  "I  dealt  with 
you  to-day  as  a  man — one  man  with  another.  I  find 
I  made  a  mistake.  You  are  incapable  of  appreciating 
such  treatment.  I  should  have  bitten." 

"I  don't  understand  you,  sir!  My  business  here  is 
entirely  legitimate  and  straightforward.  If  I  choose  to 
exchange  the  mortgage  for  the  stock,  and  to  take  chances 
of  making  a  few  dollars  or  of  losing  a  few — perhaps  all 


294  MISTER  BILL 

— and  at  the  same  time  do  my  friends  a  good  turn,  I 
fail  to  see  how  I  am  open  to  censure.  It  is  simply  a 
matter  of  business  in  which  they  are  relieved  of  an  ob- 
ligation, while  I  may  profit,  or  I  may  lose.  Do  you  blame 
me?" 

"No!  I — pity  you!"  said  Waldron,  with  fine  con- 
tempt. 

"Sir!"  Mr.  Chadeller  indignantly  exclaimed.  "I  am 
well  within  my  rights  and  privileges  in  this  matter,  I 
would  have  you  understand,"  he  vigorously  declared, 
placing  himself  at  once  on  the  defensive. 

"To  be  sure  you  are.  It  is  your  privilege  to  barter 
with  Mr.  Burrows  for  this  mortgage  which,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  fact,  is  not  worth  the  paper  despoiled  in  its  mak- 
ing, which  you  know,  as  well  as  he.  It  is  also  your 
privilege  to  tire  of  your  bargain,  and  seek  to  exchange 
this  same  worthless  mortgage  for  the  certificates  you 
deemed  equally  worthless,  but  which  have  suddenly 
acquired  value  unknown  to  the  woman  from  whom  you 
would  now  secure  them  by  misrepresentation — all  of 
which  as  you  say,  is  legitimate.  You  are  to  be  con- 
gratulated upon  your  business  perspicacity — your  con- 
ception is  entirely  correct.  The  stock  will  become  ex- 
ceedingly valuable — is  valuable  now — while  your  mort- 
gage will  depreciate  very  materially.  The  weak  point 
in  your  calculations  is  in  the  time  of  your  coming.  You 
are  early  by  several  hours.  You  should  have  come  in 
through  the  back  window,  and — " 

"Sir!" 

"Possibly  you  might  have  possessed  yourself  of 
the  certificates  and  the  mortgage,"  said  Waldron,  pay- 
ing no  heed  to  the  indignant  outburst  of  the  other. 


MAN  TO  MAN  295 

"What  do  you  mean,  sir?  Do  you  mean  to  insinuate 
that  I  would  commit  a  theft?  Have  a  care,  you  are 
treading  on  dangerous  ground!"  he  admonished,  with 
increasing  anger,  and  a  certain  assumption  of  bravado. 

"Not  necessarily,"  replied  Waldron,  with  exasperating 
coolness.  "I  merely  suggested  two  methods  of  ac- 
complishing the  same  object.  You  have  shown  your 
fine  discretion  by  adopting  legitimate  business  methods, 
which  entitle  you  to  the  fine  protection  of  the  law. 
Had  I  come  upon  you  as  suddenly  while  employing  the 
other  method,  which  is  only  another  way  of  accomplish- 
ing the  same  result,  the  same  law  would  protect  me  in 
administering  the  punishment  you  so  richly  deserve.  In 
other  words,  the  fine  distinction  of  the  law  saves  you 
from  yourself,  and  makes  you  an  honest  man  entitled 
to  the  respect  of  the  community  in  which  you  dwell.  Mr. 
Chadeller,  you  are  deeply  indebted  to  the  wise  and  benefi- 
cent laws  of  your  country." 

Confronted  by  a  weaker  man  physically  or  mentally, 
Mr.  Chadeller  would  doubtless  have  resented  such  un- 
qualified aspersions  upon  his  character  much  more  vigor- 
ously than  he  deemed  advisable  under  existing  condi- 
tions. There  was  that  about  the  man  who  had  placed 
him  so  completely  on  the  defensive  by  laying  bare  mo- 
tives he  had  sought  to  hide  even  from  himself,  which 
tended  to  exert  a  restraining  influence  over  his  own 
weaker  and  ill  poised  mentality,  although  evidence  was 
not  wanting  of  an  inner  tumult  of  passion. 

"You  might  go  further  and  say  that  the  whole  affair 
is  none  of  yours,  and  you  will  have  more  justification 
for  the  assertion  than  any  you  have  yet  made,"  he  de- 
clared, very  warmly.  "I  am  capable  of  managing  my 


296  MISTER  BILL 

own  affairs  without  your  assistance,  as  is  Mrs.  Winston, 
I  dare  say.  If  she  does  not  choose  to  accept  my  offer, 
well  and  good,  and  no  harm  done.  I  may  then  decide 
that  I  want  the  money  on  the  mortgage.  In  any  event 
I  have  no  further  dealings  with  you  in  connection  with 
this  or  any  other  matter,  and  we  will  consider  this  in- 
terview— which  I  dare  say  you  so  kindly  arranged,  think- 
ing to  intimidate  me — concluded,  young  man.  I  warn 
you,  no  more  of  your  nonsense  with  me — no  more  of  it — 
do  you  understand?" 

"Perfectly,  Mr.  Chadeller — you  evidently  do  not.  I 
will  enlighten  you.  We  have  only  arrived  at  the  real 
object  of  this  interview — I  will  detain  you  but  a  moment 
longer.  You  have  not  settled  that  little  matter  of  to-day, 
I  believe?" 

"Practically  so,  yes.  The  details  have  been  arranged, 
and  the  matter  will  be  formally  closed  in  the  morning." 

"The  offer  is  withdrawn,  Mr.  Chadeller,"  he  was  in- 
formed with  startling  abruptness.  "I  haven't  much 
faith  in  that  particular  mortgage,  but  papers  with  signa- 
tures attached  in  unscrupulous  hands  sometimes  become 
more  or  less  annoying,  and  no  harm  can  come  from 
clipping  its  wings.  I  exact  that  mortgage,  Mr.  Chadel- 
ler, as  a  bonus  on  the  settlement  that  I  offered  you  to- 
day, and  I  will  see  you  at  my  office  at  ten  o'clock  to-mor- 
row morning  and  conclude  our  business  relations — finally, 
I  trust." 

"What  do  you  mean,  sir?  This  is  outrageous — out- 
rageous, sir!"  fairly  howled  the  surprised  and  infuriated 
Mr.  Chadeller.  "Is  this  business  according  to  your  fine 
ideas — agree  upon  one  settlement,  and  avail  yourself 
of  a  technicality  to  demand  another?  I  won't  stand  it 


MAN  TO  MAN  297 

— you  hear  me,  sir — I  won't  stand  such  nonsense.  It's 
not  business !" 

"You  are  right.  It  is  not  business  according  to  my 
ideas.  The  methods,  however,  are  yours — not  mine.  I 
am  properly  ashamed  to  employ  them,  and  my  sole  justi- 
fication is  the  fact  that  I  am  compelled  to  adopt  the 
same  weapons  as  my  adversaries.  Mr.  Chadeller,  I  was 
willing  to  deal  with  you  as  a  man,  and  I  showed  my 
sincerity  by  making  the  first  advances  when  you  were 
in  my  power.  Now  I  am  dealing  with  you  the  only  way 
you  are  capable  of  appreciating — I  am  biting. 

"And  if  I  refuse?" 

"You  will  settle  on  the  same  basis  as  Mr.  Burrows 
and  his  followers,  which  still  leaves  a  comfortable  mar- 
gin to  make  the  settlement  I  now  offer  you  rather  more 
desirable,  if  I  mistake  not.  However,  it  is  for  you 
to  decide,  and  I  shall  consider  your  failure  to  meet  me 
at  the  appointed  time  as  equivalent  to  a  refusal  of 
my  proposition.  Now,  sir,  the  interview  is  concluded." 


CHAPTER  XXXI 
"YOU  LOVE  ME?" 

ONE  after  another  the  characters   in  the  great 
drama  of  life  make  their  entrances  and  their 
exits.     Some  are    applauded — some    are    con- 
demned; each  plays  the  part  for  which  he  is 
cast — it  is  a  law  none  may  transgress. 

Mr.  Chadeller  had  no  sooner  taken  his  departure  than 
Waldron  was  favored  with  another  presence  vastly  more 
agreeable.  Said  agreeable  presence  appeared  in  the  form 
of  a  very  brisk  young  woman  clad  in  a  most  becoming 
tailor-made  gown,  topped  by  an  equally  fetching  crea- 
tion of  the  milliner's  art,  and  swinging  a  very  elongated 
umbrella. 

"Well,  I'm  a  bear!  I  may  not  look  the  part,  but  I 
am!"  was  the  surprising  declaration  of  this  interesting 
creature  as  she  planted  the  aforesaid  umbrella  directly 
before  her  and  contemplated  the  man  with  mingled  seri- 
ousness and  amusement,  the  former,  however,  seeming 
to  predominate.  "From  all  I  am  able  to  understand," 
she  further  declared,  "the  bulls  turned  the  tables  on  the 
bears  and  drove  them  into  the  woods  helter-skelter,  and 
— well,  really,  I  don't  know — why  do  they  do  such 
things?"  she  asked,  quite  helplessly. 

"Beastly  shabby  of  the  bulls !"  he  told  her,  not  very 
sympathetically,  it  is  to  be  feared. 

298 


"YOU  LOVE  ME?"'  299 

"I  am  one  of  the  unfortunates,  it  seems,"  she  con- 
tinued, not  much  enlightened  by  his  reply.  "Lost  all 
my  money— or  most  of  it.  Mr.  Lowe  sent  me  a  sort 
of  preparatory  warning  this  afternoon,  and  was  to  have 
seen  me  this  evening  to  give  me  full  particulars,  which 
I  did  not  wait  to  hear.  If  he  has  lost  my  money — that 
ends  it.  I  cannot  be  of  any  assistance  to  him.  To  be 
sure,  I  might  worry  him  a  good  bit,  but  that  would  only 
make  the  poor  man  more  miserable,  and  not  give  me 
any  satisfaction.  Jack  told  me  you  were  here,  so  I 
came  to  tell  you  my  troubles — I  must  confide  in  some 
one.  How  are  you?  Troubles  first — greetings  after- 
wards," she  laughed,  forcing  herself  with  evident  effort 
to  make  light  of  her  misfortune. 

"Perhaps,  after  all,  the  affair  has  been  grossly  ex- 
aggerated," he  suggested,  the  conversation  again  revert- 
ing to  her  troubles. 

"Ah,  yes,  to  be  sure — you  could  not  well  miss  it! 
The  occasion  distinctly  calls  for  one  of  two  replies — 
any  variation  would  have  stamped  you  a  genius.  You 
might  have  brutally  suggested  that  the  worst  was  yet 
to  come." 

"I  was  conscious  of  the  extremely  commonplace  char- 
acter of  my  remark.  However,  as  I  failed  to  achieve 
greatness,  I  may,  perhaps,  congratulate  myself  that  I 
also  failed  to  transgress  precedent." 

"Of  course  I  must  dispose  of  my  house,  horses,  and 
all  accessories,  which  I  do  not  so  much  mind  on  my 
own  account,  but  my  mother  will  take  quite  another 
view,"  she  told  him,  more  seriously.  "I  have  not  as 
yet  informed  her — I  was  not  up  to  it.  The  disposition 
of  the  property  involves  certain  complications,  which  I 


300  MISTER  BILL 

do  not  in  the  least  understand,  except  that  the  proceeds 
do  not  all  revert  to  me — in  fact,  but  a  small  portion.  I 
was  supposed  to  have  sufficient  to  squander  aside  from 
the  property,  and  everything  was  carefully  arranged  so 
that  I  might  not,  in  a  mad  moment,  do  away  with  my 
worldly  possessions  in  one  wild  swoop.  I  was  beauti- 
fully protected  against  myself,  and  left  to  the  mercy  of 
my  guardian,  as  events  have  proved.  Whether  I  still 
possess  a  place  to  lay  my  blessed  head,  or  am  a  subject 
for  my  own  asylum,  is  beyond  me  just  at  present." 

"Allow  me  to  relieve  you  of  your  umbrella;  and  will 
you  remove  your  hat?"  he  considerately  suggested,  at 
the  conclusion  of  her  remarks  to  which  he  had  listened 
very  intently. 

"Don't  you  like  my  hat?"  she  inquired,  seemingly 
surprised  at  his  apparent  lack  of  appreciation.  "I  think 
it  perfectly  lovely!  However,  to  oblige  the  gentleman, 
I  will  sacrifice  even  my  hat,"  proceeding  to  comply  with 
his  request.  "I'm  a  fright,  which  is  a  trifle,  if  the  gen- 
tleman is  pleased,"  she  declared,  with  charming  resigna- 
tion, brushing  several  recreant  locks  into  place. 

"The  hat  as  you  say,  is  perfectly  lovely — no  aspersions 
intended,  I  assure  you.  I  desire  a  few  moments'  very 
serious  conversation  with  you,  and  the  hat  and  umbrella 
would  be  sure  to  get  on  my  nerves." 

"Nerves,  indeed !  You'  never  had  one.  The  lack  of 
them  is  far  more  likely  to  upset  you.  I  am  at  once 
suspicious  when  you  confess  to  a  weakness.  What  devil- 
try are  you  up  to  now,  sir?" 

"Will  you  sit  here  ?"  he  said,  arranging  a  pillow  at  one 
end  of  the  small  sofa. 

"Now  I  am  convinced  that  something  is  about  to  hap- 


"YOU  LOVE  ME?"  301 

pen.  However,  I  am  prepared  for  the  worst — I  believe 
I  have  reached  a  state  of  recklessness,"  she  laughed,  as 
she  accepted  the  place  made  for  her. 

"You  see  I  am  taking  complete  possession  of  you.  I 
am  quite  convinced  that  you  are  in  sad  need  of  a  pro- 
tector," he  told  her,  as  he  took  possession  of  the  other 
half  of  the  sofa. 

"I  am  sure  of  it.  If  I  received  my  just  deserts  I 
should  be  reduced  to  short  strings,  given  my  doll  rags, 
and  relegated  to  first  principles  generally." 

"Is  not  that  rather  an  extreme  view  of  your  immediate 
requirements  ?" 

"Mine  is  an  extreme  case.  Heroic  treatment  only, 
would  be  efficacious." 

"Will  you  permit  me  to  prescribe  for  you?"  he  in- 
quired, more  seriously  than  he  had  yet  spoken. 

"I  fear  that  your  prescription  would  avail  me  little," 
she  said,  regarding  him  rather  doubtfully.  "However, 
you  may  prescribe,  but  understand,  sir,  I  unequivocally 
reserve  the  privilege  of  rejection — " 

"That  is  ever  the  prerogative  of  your  sex — to  accept 
or  reject,"  he  gently  interposed. 

"Because  I  don't  like  bitter  things,  and  besides,  your 
motives  are  not  altogether  clear  to  me.  They  have  not 
at  all  times  been  above  suspicion,  I  am  compelled  to  re- 
mind you,  and  I  do  not  intend  to  bargain  for  any  more 
bricks  of  whatsoever  kind  or  character — I  shall  look 
before  I  leap,  hereafter.  Now,  then,  if  you  have  any 
definite  proposition  to  make,  please  to  state  it  plainly. 
Well,  sir — what  have  you  to  offer?" 

"Only  the  love  of  a  man — only  his  love  and  protec- 
tion—" 


302  MISTER  BILL 

"What!"  she  exclaimed,  increduously.  "Do  you  mean 
to  say  that  you  love  me?"  a  tiny  finger  unconsciously 
emphasizing  the  surprise  of  its  owner. 

"Ah,  yes !  That  is  just  what  I  mean  to  say,"  he  boldly 
declared,  taking  two  unresisting  hands  in  his.  "Is  it 
really  so  difficult  to  understand  that  a  big  awkward  fel- 
low— "  Man!  Man!  What  mean  those  painful  and 
inarticulate  efforts  at  speech — that  desperate  clutching  at 
throat,  at  this,  of  all  unfortunate  moments? 

"Shall  I  call  for  help?  Can  I  do  anything  to  relieve 
you?"  she  inquired,  with  prettily  feigned  solicitude. 
"Please,  sir,  do  not  distress  yourself,  because  I  absolutely 
refuse  to  be  responsible  for  the  final  result  if  the  mere 
beginning  is  so  painful." 

"Jack's  collar!"  he  managed  to  articulate.  "I  sac- 
rificed comfort  and  freedom  of  speech  for  an  unsullied 
piece  of  linen.  I  was  fearful  that  even  though  you  were 
inclined  to  accept  the  man,  the  collar  might  hang  him." 

"And  so  you  preferred  choking  to  taking  any  chances  ?" 

"Times  over." 

"Poor  man!  Now  that  you  have  proved  the  sacrifice 
of  which  you  are  capable  you  may  remove  your  collar 
if  you  like,  or  I  will  get  the  scissors  and  amputate  it. 
because,  whatever  I  do,  I  shall  not  accept  the  collar." 

"Is  it  so  difficult  to  believe  that  he  can  possess  a  deep 
and  abiding  love — a  love  as  deep  and  wide  and  strong 
as  his  big  awkward  self?"  he  continued,  resuming  the 
thread  of  his  declaration,  and  possession  of  the  little 
hands.  "Do  you  fear  to  trust  your  happiness — your  life 
to  his  keeping?  Do  you  know  him  too  little — is  it  too 
much  to  ask  ?" 

"Oh,  no,  no!     Not  that!     I  trust  you  in  everything! 


"YOU  LOVE  ME?"  303 

I  would  believe  anything  you  told  me.  I  would  go 
with  you  anywhere.  I  believe  I  would  make  any  sac- 
rifice for  you — only — " 

"Only  what?"  he  gently  asked,  smiling  at  her  con- 
fusion. "Only  what,  dear?" 

"Only  it  is  all  so  very  sudden,  and — there,  I  have  said 
it  after  all !  I  have  vowed  and  declared  come  what  might, 
I  should  never  be  guilty  of  stereotyping  myself  into 
that  form.  But  you  have  never  by  word  or  look  given 
me  any  idea  that  you  cared  for  me,  which  of  course, 
makes  it  all  very  sudden." 

"I  plead  guilty  to  the  charge,  dear — you  are  exon- 
erated." 

"I  could  not  understand  you.  You  almost  never  said 
nice  things  to  me,  and  when  I  made  pretty  speeches  to 
you  they  just  seemed  to  strike  a  brick  wall  and  bound 
back  to  me.  You  never  seemed  to  hear,  or  to  care,  or 
to  understand,  and  sometimes  I  wondered  if  you  were 
actually  stupid  in  some  respects,  or  just  an  animated 
piece  of  ice.  And  my!  but  you  were  bold  at  times. 
Why  did  you  treat  me  so  badly  if  you  really  cared  for 
me?" 

"I  will  tell  you  why,  dear,"  drawing  her  nearer  to 
him,  "but  you  must  not  be  angry.  To  be  perfectly 
plain—" 

"And  brutal !"  she  interjected.     "Go  on !" 

"And  brutal,"  he  acquiesced.  "I  early  conceived  the 
idea  that  the  much  maligned  Wizard  and  his  mistress 
possessed  several  characteristics  in  common.  Of  course 
I  had  not  at  that  time  made  the  acquaintance  of  the 
noble  animal — this  is  merely  an  impromptu  simile  in- 


304  MISTER  BILL 

spired  by  after  events.  I  was  also  warned  to  beware 
of  you,  as  you  will  perhaps  remember — " 

"Remember !  That  wretch  of  a  Jack !"  she  indignantly 
exclaimed.  "I  should  say  I  did !  And  yet,  on  the  whole, 
I  think  I  shall  have  to  forgive  Jack.  I  fancy  I  am  under 
obligations  to  the  rascal !  But  just  the  same,  he  needn't 
have  given  one  something  with  a  string  attached,  and 
then  attempt  to  snatch  it  away — need  he?  Go  on — you 
were  warned  against  me." 

"No,  dear,  Jack  did  very  wrong — very  wrong  indeed. 
I  believe  I  should  pension  the  rascal  for  his  misdemeanor. 
However,  his  timely  warning  agreed  with  my  own  ideas 
perfectly.  I  was  convinced  that  ordinary  methods  would 
never  avail  with  this  particular  young  woman,  and  hers 
was  a  case  requiring  heroic  treatment.  I  immediately 
decided,  all  or  nothing,  and  if  nothing,  at  least  the  sat- 
isfaction of  being  worsted  in  a  short  sharp  encounter 
rather  than  to  suffer  the  suspense  of  a  long  campaign, 
and  possible  defeat  in  the  end." 

"And  so  you  just  pulled  my  head  around  like — so — and 
so — and  so!"  she  quickly  responded,  emphasizing  the 
summary  treatment  he  had  applied  to  the  unruly  Wizard. 
"And  then  I  trotted  along  very  meekly — didn't  I?  Oh, 
yes  you  did — and  yes  I  did !  I  can  see  it  all  now — I  saw 
it  even  then.  And  yet — I  think  I  rather  liked  it,  at  least 
I  did  not  seem  to  mind  so  very  much,  did  I — Mis-ter 
Bill?"  glancing  up  at  him  with  pretty  consciousness,  as 
she  voiced  a  name  to  which  she  had  never  before  given 
expression.  "And  when  did  you  first  begin  to  really 
care  whether  I  behaved  well,  or — balked  ?" 

"Ah,  dear,  as  I  look  back,  I  think  you  have  never 
been  long  absent  from  my  thoughts  since  first  we  met, 


"YOU  LOVE  ME?'  305 

that  night  out  in  the  mountains.  You  had  hardly  gone 
your  way  before  I  realized  such  a  sense  of  loneliness  as 
I  had  never  known  before.  Your  sweet  face  was  ever 
before  me,  and  your  voice  seemed  repeating  over  and 
over  again  the  words  you  spoke  to  me.  Even  the  moon 
seemed  to  hold  your  likeness,  and  many  long  weary 
hours  have  you  been  my  companion  on  lonesome  rides 
and  midnight  watches.  And  sleep  many  times  brought 
sweet  dreams  of  your  companionship;  and  sometimes — 
Ah,  yes,  sometimes ! — I  wished  life  might  be  the  one  long 
sweet  dream  of  happiness  that  came  to  me  when  my  own 
consciousness  took  wings  and  another  sweeter  and  dearer 
came  in  its  stead." 

"And  you  really  thought  of  me  so  much — and  you 
knew  me  so  little  ?" 

"Out  in  that  lonesome  country  one  is  permitted  so 
much  time  for  thought — thinking,  thinking,  ever  think- 
ing. Thoughts  are  companions,  and  one  chooses  as  he 
will." 

"And  so  you  chose  me  for  your  companion?" 

"Yes,  dear,  I  chose  you — every  fibre  of  my  being 
chose  you.  You  have  been  more  to  me  than  you  can  ever 
know.  You  have  been  the  sweet  inspiration  of  my  better 
self — a  self  I  never  knew  until  you  made  me  conscious 
of  the  wonderful  wealth  of  my  possessions." 

"And  so  I  did  regenerate  you,  after  all,"  she  said,  laugh- 
ing softly.  "And  so  you  just  thought  and  thought,  those 
lonely  nights  out  there  in  the  mountains;  just  thought 
of  the  girl  you  might  never  see  again — a  careless  friv- 
olous girl  who  perhaps  had  never  a  thought  for  you?" 

"Yes,  dear,  and  those  were  some  of  the  happiest  hours 
I  have  ever  known.  In  the  silence  of  the  night  come 


3o6  MISTER  BILL 

thoughts  we  never  know  by  day.  Strange  moods  hold 
us  in  their  grasp,  and  beautiful  enthralling  thoughts  flood 
fast  upon  us,  do  we  but  give  them  leave  to  come.  So 
alone,  so  at  one  do  we  seem  with  nature  that  we  are  priv- 
ileged, with  scarce  volition  of  our  own,  to  quaff  at  her 
wondrous  fount  of  life  and  love  from  which  the  poor 
chap  off  in  the  mountains  may  drink  his  fill,  even  though 
he  must  find  his  sweetheart  in  the  moon,  and  confine  his 
love  making  to  the  communion  of  spirit — yet  all  strangely 
in  accord  with  that  vast,  wild,  weird,  wonderful  solitude." 

"How  beautiful  are  such  thoughts !  And  what  happi- 
ness you  must  derive  from  your  knowledge  of  things  of 
which  so  many  of  us  have  little  or  no  conception.  And 
what  in  others  might  be  mere  effeminacy,  in  you,  who 
seem  so  much  a  part  of  that  wild  and  rugged  country, 
is  the  very  breath  of  truth  and  life." 

"And  did  the  careless  frivolous  girl  never  give  even  one 
stray  little  thought  to  the  man  away  out  there  in  the 
mountains  in  return  for  the  many  he  gave  her?" 

"Ah,  dear,  how  strangely  are  some  things  ordered. 
And  what  will  you  say,  when  I,  too,  confess  that  you 
have  been  much  in  my  thoughts  since  that  eventful  night. 
Yes,  dear,  my  thoughts  have  unconsciously  turned  to 
you — Oh,  so  many,  many  times!  And  perhaps  some  of 
those  nights  an  answering  thought  has  gone  back  to  you, 
and  after  all,  it  was  a  very  real  girl  with  whom  you  held 
such  sweet  communion." 

"I  am  sure  of  it.  One  could  not  give  so  much  without 
receiving  something  in  return." 

"I  have  imagined  all  sorts  of  strange  and  wonderful 
things  about  you.  You  interested  me  not  a  little  in  the 
short  time  we  were  thrown  together.  My  curiosity  was 


"YOU  LOVE  MEf"  307 

aroused  as  well — that  insatiable  curiosity  of  mine!"  she 
laughed.  "I  think  I  was  just  the  least  little  bit  afraid 
of  you — you  seemed  such  a  terribly  dangerous  man.  My ! 
but  you  fairly  bristled  with  guns — they  were  strapped  all 
about  you.  I  was  mortally  afraid  one  of  them  might  pop 
off  accidentally  and  set  them  all  going  like  a  bunch  of 
fire-crackers.  Where  were  you  going?  And  what  were 
you  going  to  do?  Or  were  you  simply  at  your  regular 
fighting  weight  ?  Is  that  the  proper  term  ?" 

"It  is  as  good  as  another,"  he  laughed. 

"That  you  were  not  one  of  the  rough  fellows  of  that 
wild  country  was  plainly  apparent.  Your  rough  clothes 
failed  to  hide  the  evidences  of  your  earlier  life  and  train- 
ing. Sometime  when  we  become  better  acquainted — per- 
haps when  I  have  been  given  legal  permission,  so  that  I 
may  be  well  within  my  rights  and  privileges — I  shall 
want  to  know  much  more  about  you.  Oh!  I  shall  want 
to  know  heaps  and  heaps  of  things — I  give  you  fair 
warning." 

"Very  well,  dear,  when  you  are  properly  privileged  you 
shall  know  all." 

"And  those  times  when  I  was  so  much  in  your 
thoughts,  did  you  really  expect  to  see  me  again,"  she 
asked  him,  graciously  ignoring  a  very  mean  speech. 

"At  times  I  would  take  myself  severely  to  task  and 
declare  that  such  nonsense  had  gone  far  enough ;  that 
such  thoughts  were  worse  than  useless,  but  all  to  no  last- 
ing purpose.  Yet  another  thought,  nourished  without 
volition  of  my  own — even  against  my  better  judgment — 
told  me  that  we  should  meet  again,  and  had  I  followed 
my  first  impulse  when  you  entered  this  room  on  the  night 
of  our  second  meeting,  I  should  have  taken  you  in  my 


3o8  MISTER  BILL 

arms  and  told  you  that  I  had  found  you  at  last  in  the 
joy  and  gladness  that  surged  into  my  heart.  And  times 
since,  when  perhaps  you  have  thought  me  coldest,  I 
have  been  obliged  to  exert  all  my  self-control  to  refrain 
from  telling  you  what  was  in  my  heart,  but  I  feared 
that  I  should  only  amuse  you  for  the  moment,  and  in  the 
end  be  cast  out  of  your  life." 

"I  cannot  recall  reciprocating  just  such  a  wild  desire 
on  the  occasion  of  our'  second  meeting,  yet  you  seemed 
not  in  the  least  a  stranger  to  me,  and  I  could  no  more 
help  trotting  down  those  stairs  and  talking  to  you  than  I 
can  help  loving  you  now,  and  I  guess  if  the  truth  were 
known,  my  desire  was  not  greater  to  refrain  from  one 
than  the  other." 

"And  when  did  you  begin  to  think  it  might  be  de- 
sirable to  refrain  from  one  or  the  other — the  other,  for 
instance  ?" 

"When  you  coolly — and  I  think  rather  impudently,  sir 
— informed  me  that  I  was  all  right  in  my  way — s^uch  con- 
descension— but  gave  me  to  understand,  no,  you  told  me 
just  that — you  did  not  even  permit  yourself  the  civility 
of  leaving  the  inference  to  me — that  the  particular  way 
was  none  of  yours,  I  think — well,  I  think  I  loved  you 
from  that  moment.  My  desire,  however,  to  take  your 
head  off  was  considerably  greater  at  that  particular  time, 
and  perhaps  you  think  I  would  not  have  taken  fiendish 
delight  in  doing  just  that,  even  though  I  knew  my  heart 
would  pay  the  reckoning." 

"And  all  the  while  I  was  blissfully  unconscious  of  the 
fate  I  had  so  narrowly  escaped." 

"You  were  wise,  sir,  to  keep  out  of  my  clutches  for  a 
time — you  reckoned  well.  You  shall  pay  dearly  for 


"YOU  LOVE  ME?"  309 

your  bad  behavior !  Just  think  of  the  years  and  years  you 
will  be  compelled  to  do  penance,  because  you  are  too 
mean  to  die,  and  I  won't,  just  for  spite.  Moreover,  I'll 
take  solemn  oath  never  to  give  you  cause  for  divorce, 
but  just  make  you  endure  to  the  bitter  end.  Now,  sir, 
do  you  realize  the  punishment  in  store  for  you  ?" 

"What  a  terribly  vindictive  little  creature  you  are,  to 
be  sure,  when  all  the  while  your  welfare  was  my  chief 
concern — simply  protecting  you  against  yourself,  and 
providing  you  with  a  husband  most  expeditiously.  Had 
you  been  permitted  to  make  the  pace,  I  should  even  now 
be  trailing  along  somewhere — perhaps  in  the  next  coun- 
ty— a  creature  of  circumstances  and  woman's  wiles." 

"Oh,  yes,  to  be  sure!  It  is  very  comforting  to  know 
after  it  is  all  over  that  a  man  had  very  considerately 
selected  himself  for  one's  husband,  and  if  one  was  so  fool- 
ish as  to  be  miserable  the  while,  there  was  really  no 
necessity  because  the  man  knew  all  about  it  and  what 
was  best  for  the  woman.  But  just  the  same,  I  have 
missed  something.  You  might  have  let  me  know  you 
cared  just  the  littlest  bit,  and  then — " 

"You  know  now,  dear,  all  about  it,  and  we  have  years 
and  years  in  which  to  make  amends  for  the  few  short 
days—" 

"But  don't  you  see — it's  not  quite  the  same.  There's 
the  delicious  uncertainty  of  something  quite  certain.  You 
know,  yet  you  don't  know,  and  you  just  live  on  th<5se 
days  and  minutes — there  just  can't  be  anything  to  take 
their  place.  It's  like  the  first  kiss — when  it's  gone,  it's 
gone.  There  may  be  others,  and  perhaps  very  much 
better,  mind  you,  but  none  quite  the  same." 

"Yes,  dear— the  first  kiss." 


CHAPTER  XXXI! 
THE  LAW  THAT  RULES  THE  UNIVERSE 

AND  so  you  waited  until  I  had  been  despoiled 
of  my  possessions,  and  then  offered  your- 
self as  my  protector?  Ah  dear  but  that  was 
good  of  you !" 

"Yes — yes !"  he  acquiesced,  somewhat  doubtfully.  "You 
see—" 

"Yes,  dear,  I  know,"  she  gently  interposed.  "You  are 
rich  in  yourself,  and  that  to  me,  is  greater  than  all  else." 

"What  optimists  love  makes  of  us — how  generous  we 
become  under  its  magic  spell,"  he  said,  with  fond  ap- 
proval. 

"And  how  we  trust  our  better  selves  when  love  is  the 
guiding  power !  Would  that  all  the  world  might  love — " 

"As  we  do?"  he  gently  supplied. 

"Yes,  dear,  as  we  do.  It  would  not  be  in  my  power  to 
wish  the  world  a  greater  happiness." 

"And  now,  about  the  future.  How  would  you  like  a 
modest  little  cottage  down  here  by  the  sea?  Jack  and 
Maude  will  be  getting  married  one  of  these  days,  and 
then  we  shall  all  be  here  together." 

"That  will  be  lovely !  I  shall  be  glad  to  get  away  from 
the  tumult  of  the  city  and  enjoy  a  little  rest  and  quiet. 
I  am  content  to  share  your  life  as  you  make  it.  Without 
you,  life  would  be  but  a  passive  existence.  You  have 

310 


THE  LAW  THAT  RULES  311 

spoiled  me  for  anything  of  which  you  are  not  a  part — the 
greater  part." 

"Excuse  me  for  living!"  exclaimed  Jack,  turning  ab- 
ruptly to  quit  the  room  into  which  he  had  rushed  with 
his  usual  impetuosity. 

"Come  back,  Jack !"  said  Waldron.  "You  may  as  well 
be  made  aware  of  the  complications  for  which  you  are  in 
no  small  measure  responsible." 

"Beg  pardon,  sir!"  offering  a  mock  salute.  "I  forgot 
to  ring  my  bell,  and  my  light  was  out.  I  came  in  to  tell 
Cathy  that  Mr.  Lowe  is  here,  and  wishes  to  see  her  on 
very  important  business." 

"And  her  troubles  still  pursue  her!"  she  sighed.  "I 
fancied  I  had  evaded  them  for  a  time — I  believe  I  had 
quite  forgotten  them.  Tell  the  gentleman  that  I  am  en- 
gaged—doubly engaged,"  she  laughed,  glancing  shyly  up 
at  the  man  by  her  side.  "Say  that  I  will  see  him  to- 
morrow— next  week — any  time  but  the  present.  I  have 
lost  all  my  money,  Jack,  but  misfortune  has  brought  me 
a  fairly  eommendable  substitute.  It  is  a  very  ill  wind 
that  blows  no  good — even  if  it  be  only  a  man.  We  are 
going  to  live  down  here,  and  perhaps  have  a  cottage  be- 
side you  and  Maude.  We  shall  be  very  modest  as  be- 
comes sensible  people — " 

Her  confidence  was  rudely  interrupted  by  an  outburst 
of  merriment  on  the  part  of  the  young  man  who  was 
quick  to  grasp  the  true  state  of  affairs.  "What  do  you 
mean,  Jack  Winston  ?"  she  indignantly  demanded.  "What 
do  you  mean  by  such — " 

"All  right,  Cathy,  I'll  tell  the  gentleman  that  this  is 
your  busy  day.  Love  in  a  cottage — Oh,  me !  That's  too 


312  MISTER  BILL 

good !"  he  laughed,  discreetly  taking  himself  away  from 
the  displeasure  he  had  incurred. 

"What  does  he  mean?"  she  demanded  of  the  man  of 
her  choice. 

"You  are  certainly  entitled  to  an  explanation,"  he 
gravely  assured  her. 

"That  young  man  evidently  looks  upon  something  as 
a  huge  joke.  I  am  sure  I  don't  see  anything  so  remark- 
ably strange,  or  so  excruciatingly  funny  as  to  occasion 
such  unseemly  mirth,  do  you  ?" 

"I  see  no  cause  for  undue  hilarity." 

"Because  if  there  is,  I  am  missing  something,  and  I 
object  to  things  being  passed  over  my  head." 

"Perhaps  he  was  overcome  by  the  prospective  happi- 
ness of  your  suggestion,"  said  the  same  unscrupulous 
man. 

"He  impressed  me  as  only  a  little  less  than  hysterical. 
I  hope  he  is  not  contemplating  another  attack,  because 
everything  seems  to  point  to  me  as  the  one  responsible — 
whatever  it  is  I  am  responsible  for." 

"Pardon  me  again,"  said  Jack,  returning  to  the  room, 
with  difficulty,  composing  his  features.  "The  gentleman 
insists  that  his  business  is  far  too  important  to  be  de- 
ferred, and  bids  me  make  another  and  more  urgent  appeal 
to  your  ladyship  to  grant  him  but  a  moment  of  your 
precious  time.  I  trust  I  am  happy  in  my  efforts."  But 
his  efforts  were  suddenly  directed  along  entirely  different 
lines  as  a  feminine  hand  laid  hold  of  a  convenient  book, 
and  he  sought  refuge  behind  the  nearest  obstacle,  which 
chanced  to  be  the  other  man.  "Please  note  the  tender 
object  in  front  before  hurling  anything  carelessly  in  this 
direction,"  he  admonished,  with  exasperating  coolness. 


THE  LAW  THAT  RULES  313 

"Very  well,  I  will  see  the  gentleman — and  I  will  see 
you  later,  young  man !"  he  was  very  positively  informed, 
as  she  passed  out  of  the  room. 

Jack  congratulated  Waldron  with  characteristic  frank- 
ness upon  what  he  was  pleased  to  term  his  good  fortune, 
and  insisted  that  he  had  hoped  for  this  same  result  from 
the  first.  "There  is  only  one  Cathy  and  one  Maude,"  he 
declared,  with  great  satisfaction,  "and  we  have  cornered 
them  both.  All  we  require  now  are  the  cottages — side 
by  side,"  which  he  seemed  to  regard  as  a  huge  joke. 

"Well,  I  am  only  a  little  more  confused  than  before,  as 
the  result  of  my  interview  with  the  gentleman,"  Cathalee 
announced,  upon  her  return  a  few  minutes  later.  "Every- 
body seems  to  radiate  mysteries,  and  so  far  as  I  am  able 
to  discover  I  am  the  bright  and  particular  luminary 
around  which  they  revolve.  I  am  really  at  a  loss  to 
understand  whether  I  am  an  object  of  pity,  a  joke  or  just 
what  part  I  am  supposed  to  be  playing." 

"What  light  did  this  particular  gentleman  throw  upon 
the  situation?"  Waldron  inquired. 

"To  begin  and  end  with,  sir,  he  said  that  you  are  a 
scoundrel — a  particularly  bad  kind.  His  expression 
seemed  to  me  a  trifle  informal — rather  more  expressive 
than  polite.  Oh,  he  said  it!"  she  insisted.  "He  said, 
furthermore,  that  you  were  the  cause  of  all  the  trouble ; 
that  you  have  practically  all  my  money,  considerable  of 
his,  and  a  lot  of  Mr.  Burrows'  and  Mr.  Morrison's.  All 
in  all,  you  have  behaved  very  badly,  I  am  led  to  infer. 
He  said,  too — and  if  you  please  bear  witness,  this  to  me 
is  the  touching  part — that  I  had  better  look  out  for  you ; 
that  no  good  could  come  from  harboring  such  a  rascal." 

"Cheerful  intelligence  concerning  the  man  to  whom 


314  MISTER  BILL 

one  has  but  just  linked  her  destiny,"  he  told  her,  with 
commendable  commiseration. 

"However,  in  justice  to  you  because  you  were  not 
there,  and  to  myself  because  I  was,  I  informed  the 
gentleman  that  he  was  speaking  of  my  affianced  husband. 
The  poor  man  nearly  collapsed ;  but  whether  from  em- 
barrassment, or  sympathy  for  me  I  was  not  able  to  de- 
termine." 

"He  was  in  duty  bound  to  warn  you — your  worldly 
interests  had  been  committed  to  his  keeping,"  he  felt 
compelled  to  remind  her. 

"I  also  informed  the  gentleman  that  you  were  even 
then  in  the  house,"  she  continued,  ignoring  a  very  ques- 
tionable remark,  "and  suggested  that  he  would  do  well  to 
express  his  sentiments  to  you,  personally,  as  I  was  sure 
that  you  could  appreciate  their  particular  application  far 
better  than  I  could  possibly  manage.  He  said  that  he 
had  had  one  interview  with  you  today,  and  I  fancied  he 
seemed  rather  fearful  that  another  might  be  forced  upon 
him  as  he  immediately  decided  that  my  business  could 
wait  until  tomorrow,  and  hastily  took  his  departure." 

"I  fear  my  efforts  went  for  naught,  after  all,"  sighed 
Jack. 

"Now  do  you  mind  telling  me  what  it  is  all  about?" 
said  Cathalee,  curiously  regarding  first  one  and  then  the 
other  of  the  men.  "What  sort  of  a  man  have  I  really 
bargained  for?  Is  he  rich  man,  poor  man,  beggar  man, 
or — what  Mr.  Lowe  said?  Not  that  it  makes  any  differ- 
ence to  me  whatever — a  mere  matter  of  curiosity  on  my 
part.  The  man  cannot  possibly  prove  an  alibi,  and  I  am 
willing  to  put  up  with  the  limit  in  either  direction.  I 
can  stagger  under  a  load  of  riches,  while  my  talents  in 


THE  LAW  THAT  RULES  315 

the  begging  line  amount  to  little  short  of  genius.  What 
do  you  mean,  sir,  by  such  carryings  on  ?"  she  indignantly 
demanded,  turning  suddenly  upon  Jack,  who  was  no  less 
amused  by  her  piquant  comments  than  by  the  general 
situation.  "You  have  more  joy  than  you  can  properly 
manage,  Jack  Winston,  and  I  advise  you  to  dispense  a 
small  portion  and  permit  others  a  slight  indulgence — 
you  will  surely  do  yourself  harm." 

"What  do  I  mean  ?"  he  cried,  with  difficulty  controlling 
his  mirth,  "I  mean — it  means — that  you  have  drawn  the 
capital  prize  in  the  matrimonial  lottery!  Love  in  a  cot- 
tage !  Ha !  Ha !  Why,  Cathy,  your  prospective  husband 
owns  a  gold  mine  that  requires  a  whole  railroad  to  carry 
off  the  gold;  and  I  own  part  of  the  railroad — don't  I, 
Mister  Bill?" 

"Exter!  Exter!"  piped  a  shrill  small  voice.  "Latest 
'dition  evenin'  pipers !"  and  a  young  miss  arrayed  in  her 
brother's  coat,  his  cap  drawn  recklessly  over  one  eye, 
and  his  collection  of  papers  under  her  arm  romped  upon 
the  scene.  "Exter!  Exter!  Full  'count  of  de  terryble 
corner  in  bears — tousands  of  lives  lost — no,  dollars — tou- 
sands  of  dollars  made  and  lost!  Piper,  miss?"  handing 
Cathalee  a  paper,  "Piper,  sir  ?"  handing  Waldron  another, 
"Piper,  sonny?" 

"Get  out  of  that  coat,  Kid!"  indignantly  ordered  big 
brother,  starting  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  fleeing  "kid,"  who 
required  no  second  admonition  to  place  a  safe  distance 
between  herself  and  the  lordly  owner  of  that  new  coat 
which  was  assuredly  not  designed  as  a  plaything  for 
little  sisters. 

"I  could  manage  the  scoundrel  part,  and  even  Mr. 
Lowe's  qualifying  phrase,  but  the  picture  is  simply  tram- 


316  MISTER  BILL 

pling  one's  good  nature  under  foot,"  said  Cathalee,  shak- 
ing her  pretty  head  in  disapproval  of  the  supposed  like- 
ness of  her  prospective  lord  and  master,  as  she  rapidly 
scanned  the  large  head-lines  which  told  her  more  of  the 
man  to  whom  she  had  given  herself  than  she  had  known 
before.  "Ah,  dear!"  she  said,  looking  up  into  eyes 
watching  her  with  amused  interest,  "shall  I  ever  know 
you?  I  wonder  if  I  ever  shall?  You  will  always  be 
to  me  like  some  great  and  wonderful  book,  one  may 
read  over  and  over,  ever  finding  something  new." 

"I  hope  so,  dear." 

"And  shall  I  ever  feel  that  I  have  cut  all  the  pages, 
and  read  each  line — or  having  read,  that  I  understand  ?" 

"I  hope  you  may  never  find  the  story  old,  and  when 
you  have  committed  it  all  to  heart,  may  it  still  be  the 
sweetest  story  ever  told." 

"Ah,  dear!  I  know  you  so  little — and  yet  so  well," 
she  softly  sighed,  looking  up  at  him  with  eyes  of  love. 

"You  certainly  took  the  man  for  better  or  for  worse — 
the  accessories  were  merely  side  issues,"  he  was  com- 
pelled to  admit. 

"And  to  think  that  I  insisted  upon  your  being  a  poor 
man  despite  yourself — and  how  you  permitted  me  to 
have  my  own  way,"  she  laughed,  just  a  little  reproach- 
fully. "And  is  it  really  true  that  you  have  all  my 
money  ?" 

"That  I  cannot  say — but  very  likely." 

"What  an  unscrupulous  man  you  are,  to  be  sure !  And 
did  you  think  by  depriving  me  of  my  means  of  sustenance 
to  make  me  perfectly  helpless,  and  simply  compel  me  to 
accept  the  first  man  who  chanced  to  offer  himself?  To 
think  had  you  not  happened  to  be  the  man!  However, 


THE  LAW  THAT  RULES  317 

I  am  glad  it  is  all  in  the  family,  because  now  I  can  go 
on  with  the  Work  that  I  had  planned,  and  with  your  as- 
sistance my  poor  efforts  will  no  longer  be  make-believe." 

"Yes,  dear — we  will  work  out  our  regeneration  to- 
gether." 

"I  want  you  to  do  something  for  me  this  very  minute 
— Oh,  you  will  find  me  very  terrible !  There  are  no  end 
of  things  I  shall  want.  Jack  and  Maude — I  want  you 
to  do  something  for  Jack." 

"I  have  already  arranged  for  that  young  man's  future, 
my  dear.  Who  else  would  you  like  to  provide  for? 
What  about  yourself?" 

"Oh,  you  will  provide  for  me!  You  cannot  well  do 
less,  you  know,  after  taking  away  my  worldly  posses- 
sions." 

"True.  I  must  not  fail  in  my  duty  now  that  I  have 
you  so  completely  in  my  power." 

"Even  were  we  entirely  dependent  upon  the  work 
those  big  strong  hands  could  do,  I  would  trust  myself 
to  their  keeping,  and  to  the  great  big  heart  that  beats 
in  there,"  a  little  hand  indicating  the  location  of  that 
organ,  "and  consider  myself  privileged  beyond  my  just 
deserts.  And  I  fear — yes,  dear,  I  fear — I  would  make 
any  sacrifice — " 

"Ah,  little  one!"  he  gently  interposed,  folding  her  in 
his  big  strong  arms,  and  looking  into  eyes  suffused  with 
tears  of  love  and  happiness,  "I  would  not,  in  justice  to 
you,  ask  you  to  make  even  one  little  sacrifice  of  which 
your  woman's  heart  did  not  approve.  No  lasting  hap- 
piness could  come  through  sacrifices  that  silenced  even 
so  much  as  one  little  protesting  voice  of  your  true  and 
honest  self.  Sometime  I  would  be  compelled  to  answer 


318  MISTER  BILL 

that  same  little  accusing  voice  that  had  only  been  lulled 
to  quiet  for  a  little  while,  and  in  just  the  proportion 
that  you  were  made  to  suffer,  would  you — all  uncon- 
sciously, perhaps — hold  me  responsible,  and  your  love 
wane.  That  would  be  but  the  beginning  of  the  end, 
finally  leaving  us  destitute  of  the  love  we  now  think  we 
possess  for  all  time,  and  of  which  we  fondly  imagine  no 
power  can  deprive  us." 

"Yes,  dear,  you  are  right — you  would  even  protect  me 
from  myself.  And  yet,  knowing  you  are  right,  I  would 
make  the  sacrifices  just  the  same.  Women  do  not  reason 
like  men,  which  perhaps  is  well.  We  cannot  reason 
against  the  dictates  of  our  hearts.  We  love — we  trust — 
we  give  our  all  in  the  simple  faith  that  though  all  the 
world  be  false,  one  man  will  be  true  to  his  trust.  We  live 
in  the  present,  content  with  what  each  day  holds  for  us. 
We  cannot  understand  that  our  love  today  may  be 
scorned  tomorrow,  our  very  sacrifices  our  own  undoing, 
which  may  return  to  us  in  bitterness  of  scorn  and  re- 
proach. Then  comes  the  day  of  reckoning  with  our  inner 
selves.  Then  do  our  souls  demand  expiation.  Then  do 
we  drink  such  bitter  dregs  of  misery  as  man  can  never 
know,  for  even  so  much  as  we  are  willing  to  sacrifice 
more  than  he,  is  he  unconscious  and  careless  of  the 
weight  of  woe  .he  casts  upon  her  whom  he  has  pledged 
himself  to  love,  honor  and  protect — yet  knowing,  we 
are  not  proof  against  ourselves.  What  is  it  ?  Why  is  it  ?" 

"It  is  the  violation  of  the  law  of  love — the  law  that 
rules  the  universe,"  he  said,  with  simple  faith. 

"Ah,  yes!"  she  softly  sighed,  "the  law  that  rules  the 
universe!  How  we  transgress  it!  How  little  we  under- 
stand and  appreciate  the  most  precious  of  our  possessions ! 


THE  LAW  THAT  RULES  319 

The  shallowness,  the  emptiness  of  the  great  world,  if  no 
fond  heart  answers  to  the  yearnings  of  your  own !  How 
cold,  how  callous,  if  it  holds  not  one  dearer  than  all  oth- 
ers !  Nothing  can  take  its  place — no  substitute  ever  known. 
Riches  and  station  are  but  hollow  mockeries,  intoxicating 
for  the  moment,  and  leaving  only  the  anomaly  of  a  man  or 
woman  who  thinks  to  find  the  consummation  of  life's 
purpose  in  the  artificialties  of  the  grea*  world.  Ah,  dear, 
it  is  all  well  lost  if  one  but  gains  the  love  that  is  true." 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


ptt 


OEGOB1976 


m  LO-Series  444 


A    000123890    6 


